Overview
The Rachel Moran Act, signed into law in 2022, amended the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) to require federal prosecutors to consult with and notify victims before entering into non-prosecution agreements (NPAs) or deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in sex trafficking cases. The legislation was a direct legislative response to the Epstein case.
Background: The Epstein CVRA Violation
The 2008 NPA between federal prosecutors and Jeffrey Epstein was negotiated in secret. Victims were deliberately excluded and not informed until after the agreement was signeda process Judge Kenneth Marra found in 2019 violated the CVRA’s requirement that victims be consulted and kept informed of “any plea deal or deferred prosecution agreement.”
Despite the CVRA violation finding, the court declined to void the NPA, and Epstein died before the matter could be fully resolved.
What the Act Does
The Rachel Moran Act:
- Requires prior notification of victims before federal prosecutors sign any NPA or DPA in cases involving sex trafficking or sexual abuse
- Requires consultation with victimsgiving them the opportunity to be heard before a deal is finalized
- Applies to future cases prospectively, closing the gap for future Epstein-type situations
- Codifies protections that courts had interpreted inconsistently before
Who Was Rachel Moran?
Rachel Moran is a survivor of child sex trafficking in Ireland who became a prominent anti-trafficking advocate. She wrote “Paid For,” a memoir about her experience in prostitution. She has been active in advocacy for survivor rights in both Europe and the United States.
Legislative Journey
The act was championed by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and supported by survivor advocacy groups. It drew bipartisan support. Its passage represented one of the few concrete legislative outcomes of the Epstein case.
Significance
The Rachel Moran Act is one of the most direct policy consequences of the Epstein scandal. It ensures that no federal prosecutor can again secretly negotiate away their obligation to victims in exchange for a favorable pleaat least not without explicit legal violation.