On June 17, 1988, 19-year-old Joanna Katz's life changed forever. That night, as she and another woman left a gathering of friends, they were abducted at gunpoint, brutally raped, beaten, and systematically tortured by five men.

Badly wounded, Joanna escaped after five grueling hours, saving her life and the life of her friend.

All five men were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. It appeared that justice had been served. However, the harsh reality is that for victims of violent crime, in addition to physical injuries they have suffered, there are jagged psychological and emotional sores that may never heal..

Some of these wounds are unavoidable- the result of a severe life-changing trauma. But many of these scars are imposed and aggravated by the very laws and system that are designed to protect the victim and our society

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