NATION-WIDE RAPE TEST KIT TRACKING SYSTEM
Building a Nationwide Tracking System of Rape Test Kits in the United States
Join us in our mission to end rape kit backlog across the United States by building a comprehensive and effective tracking system. Together, we can create change and ensure that survivors are no longer left waiting for justice.
Motto & Vision
We believe that all victims of sexual assault deserve to have their voices heard. Despite the existing backlog of untested rape kits, there is an absence of a uniform tracking system that could help prioritise sexual assault offences and treat evidence like a human.
Our nationwide tracking system is designed to address this lack and provide victims of sexual assault with the justice they deserve. We are committed to working with state and local law enforcement to ensure that all rape kits are processed in a timely and accurate manner.
Hence, the United States needs a nationwide tracking system as a response to the alarming situation of rape test kit (RTK) backlog to avail justice to the victims of these grievous offenses.
Number of untested kits in the States
How big is the backlog?
Calculating the full backlog of untested rape kits is challenging. Numerous states and local jurisdictions have never carried out a comprehensive count of untested rape kits in possession of law enforcement agencies, hospitals, or labs. Additionally, the backlog is not a static number. Many jurisdictions are currently working through testing their backlog and thus reducing the total number of untested kits. On the other hand, as law enforcement professionals are coming to better understand the value of DNA and DNA technology they are collecting and sending more samples to crime labs, which then increases caseloads. In some localities, labs are not able to keep up with turnaround times and the number of untested kits in the lab queue is increasing.
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While an exact national count is difficult to track, one study estimated that between 2014 and 2018, there were 300,000 to 400,000 unsubmitted rape kits nationwide (Strom et. al, 2021). By counting the known number of kits reported by states who have carried out at least a one-time inventory between the years 2013 and 2019, Joyful Heart has estimated that the total number of backlogged kits in these years was around 200,000 kits nationwide. At the time of this report, with data reported by states and media, we know there are more than 71,200 untested kits remaining in 42 states. We do not have complete inventories in states such as California, Mississippi, and South Carolina, so this is a rough estimation that represents the minimum amount of backlogged kits. In reality, the backlog is likely more than double this number.
Next Steps and Call to Action
We propose continued collaboration between different stakeholders towards producing a comprehensive database of all rape kits in the United States. Furthermore, we urge citizens to get involved and contribute towards justice for survivors. We endeavor to foster greater community backing, further drive awareness and fundraising efforts needed to build and sustain the nationwide database, which can also be adopted effectively in other countries as a model of best practice.