Justice for Allie: After online predator targeted teen with Down Syndrome, family changes law

Allie Hayes, a young woman with Down Syndrome, was targeted by an online predator in 2017, but due to legal gaps, her family found no immediate recourse. This incident led her parents, Mark and Dawn Hayes, to advocate for new legislation in Michigan. In 2023, the "Justice for Allie" bills were passed, criminalizing the exploitation of vulnerable adults for explicit material. The success of this legislation has sparked efforts to enact similar laws at the federal level, highlighting ongoing advocacy for the protection of individuals with disabilities.