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Asleep in the living room, 13-year-old Lavinia is assaulted by a stranger who breaks in through the living room window. Seeking justice, she is dismissed by the police, and evidence for her case goes unused for decades. Fueled by her own experiences, Lavinia advocates for herself and others, changing Texas law and pushing for systemic change.
Dr. Lavinia B. Masters is a nationally recognized survivor advocate, author, keynote speaker, and DNA justice reform leader who has transformed her personal story of sexual violence into a powerful mission for systemic change. After learning that evidence from her assault at age 13 had remained untested for more than two decades, she became a leading voice in the fight to address the sexual assault kit backlog and improve survivor-centered justice practices. Her advocacy helped inspire HB 8, The Lavinia Masters Act, signed into Texas law in 2019. She was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023 and continues to serve survivors through advocacy, education, consulting, and mentorship. Grounded deeply in her Christian faith, Lavinia believes in leading with compassion, courage, and her guiding principle: “Empathy First. Justice Always.”
Host: Katie Koestner
Editor: Evan Mader
Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang
