Across the country, the rape kit backlog is making headlines. Journalists are uncovering backlogs, jurisdictions are implementing reforms to track and test rape kits and citizens are taking action. In the Media Center, you'll find the latest information about the backlog, including: commentary from the END THE BACKLOG staff and backlog reformers, first-person testimonials from those impacted by the backlog, an archive of news articles, op-eds, investigative reports, legislation and government publications we've identified, and more.
THE BACKLOG BLOGSeptember 28, 2015
Transparency, Accountability, Reform: The Kentucky Audit Model
On September 21st, Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen announced findings from his office's statewide audit of untested sexual assault evidence, revealing that Kentucky has a backlog of 3,090 kits.
THE BACKLOG BLOGSeptember 10, 2015
Joyful Heart Foundation Celebrates Nearly $80 Million Awarded to Support Comprehensive Rape Kit Reform
The Joyful Heart Foundation, one of the leading advocacy organizations working toward nationwide rape kit reform, today applauded the awards of nearly $80 million in grants to address the backlog of untested sexual assault kits at law enforcement agencies.
THE BACKLOG BLOGAugust 28, 2015
Rape Kit Reform in 2015: States Respond to the Crisis
This year brought an unprecedented amount of activity at the state level aimed at reforming rape kit policies. In the 2015 session, 46 pieces of legislation that would address how sexual assault kit evidence is handled were introduced in 25 states, and of those, eleven states enacted bills.
THE BACKLOG BLOGJuly 22, 2015
Addressing the Rape Kit Backlog in Connecticut
We applaud the work that CONNSACS, advocates, legislators, law enforcement and prosecutors have done to uncover Connecticut’s backlog and take meaningful steps to address it.
THE BACKLOG BLOGJuly 16, 2015
Today, a bigger picture of the backlog
USA TODAY, Gannett and TEGNA TV have just released the results of a sweeping investigation on the scope of the rape kit backlog.
THE BACKLOG BLOGJune 30, 2015
The risk we take with Charlotte's rape kit backlog
Recently the Joyful Heart Foundation announced that Charlotte has 1,019 untested rape kits in law enforcement evidence storage facilities.
THE BACKLOG BLOGJune 26, 2015
News Roundup: The High Barriers to Justice
It is estimated that only between 2 and 8% of rape accusations are false. Yet rape victims face one of the steepest barriers to being believed by the criminal justice system, and their cases are the least likely of any violent crime to move forward through prosecution. Several news articles over the past few days illustrate just how steep that barrier can be.
THE BACKLOG BLOGJune 11, 2015
U.S. Senate Committee Approves $41 Million for Rape Kit Reform
Joyful Heart praised the Senate Committee on Appropriations' inclusion of $41 million in funding for the Justice Department' sexual assault response initiative in their FY16 funding bill.
