Colorado

Colorado has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform. The state is working on eliminating its backlog.

Reform Status
Full Reform
Testing Status
In-Process

Pillar Count

6/6 Pillars
Colorado has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform. The state is working on eliminating its backlog.
Statewide Inventory

Yes, the state carried out a one-time inventory.

  • Is the inventory recurring? No
  • Are law enforcement agencies and/or labs required to participate in the inventory? Yes
  • Does the law require to document the date of when each kit was collected? No
  • Does the law require a reason to be given as to why the kit was not submitted to a crime lab for testing? No
  • Does the law require untested kits to be counted? Yes
Test Backlogged Kits

In-Process, the state has committed to testing its backlogged kits.

  • Does the law require law enforcement to submit all untested kits, including those past the statute of limitation, within a certain deadline? Yes
  • Does the law set a deadline for the crime laboratory to complete analysis once a kit has been submitted to the lab? No
  • Does the law require kits past the statute of limitations to be sent in for testing? No
  • Does the law allow public crime labs to outsource unsubmitted kits? No
Test New Kits

Yes, all newly collected kits are being tested.

  • According to the law, how much time after a rape kit examination do hospitals have to notify law enforcement that a kit is ready to be picked up? Not specified
  • According to the law, after being notified, within what time frame is law enforcement required to pick up the kit? Not specified
  • According to the law, after picking the kit up, within what time frame is law enforcement required to submit the kit to the lab? 21 Days
  • According to the law, after receiving the kit, within what time frame is the lab required to test the kit? Not specified
  • Does the law allow crime labs to outsource kits for testing if they are unable to meet the deadline? Not specified
Implement Tracking System

Yes, tracking system in use.

  • Does the law state that the tracking system should track initial collection at hospital, inventory and storage by law enforcement, and testing and storage by state labs? Yes
  • Does the law state that the tracking system should track if kit a has been destroyed? Yes
  • Does the law allow all agencies who participate in the tracking system to update the status of a kit? Yes
  • Does the law state that the tracking system should have a victim portal? Yes
  • Does the law require law enforcement, labs, and hospitals to participate in the tracking system? Yes
  • Does the law state that all previously untested kits should be entered into the system? No
Victim's Right To Know

Yes, the state has granted victims the right to notice and be informed on the status of their kit.

  • Do victims have the right to receive information of the location, testing date, and testing results of their kit? Yes
  • Do victims have the right to be informed when there is any change in the status of their case? Yes
  • Do victims have the right to receive notification before destruction of their kit? Yes
  • Are victims granted further preservation of the kit or its probative contents? Yes
  • Are victims provided with the contact information for the designated liaison(s) at the corresponding law enforcement agency at the time that a kit is collected? No
  • Do victims have the right to receive a physical document identifying their rights under law? Yes
Fund Reform

Yes, the state has allocated one-time funding.

See state reform timeline below.

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State Reform Timeline

2025
Report
The Financial Cost of Colorado’s DNA Kit Backlog

In 2025, the Common Sense Institute conducted a study on the economic benefits of eliminating the state’s backlog. Read more here.

Other
Colorado's rape kit backlog dashboard goes live

In February 2025, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched a public dashboard to track the agency’s progress on the rape kit backlog and turnaround time following misconduct at the lab.

Inventory
1,407 backlogged kits in Colorado

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, in January 2025, there were 1,407 backlogged rape kits in Colorado with a turnaround time of 529 days.

Bill: Enacted
SB105 enacted in Colorado

In 2025, Colorado legislators enacted a bill that would roll over the remaining $3 million of 2024-2025 funds for DNA testing into 2025-2026 to address the crime lab backlog. The bill mandated the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to provide regular testing progress updates, use the funds to outsource testing to private labs, and implement a public rape kit backlog dashboard.

Bill: Enacted
SB304 enacted in Colorado

In 2025, Colorado enacted SB304, which establishes a Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board to oversee and improve the state’s response to sexual assault. The bill directs crime laboratories to “endeavor” to analyze and upload DNA results to CODIS within 60 days, a reduction from the current 180-day timeframe. It also requires law enforcement to notify survivors at least once every 90 days if rape kit results have not been received from the crime lab.

Other
Colorado's tracking system goes live

In 2025, Colorado’s tracking system went live.

2023
Funding
$500,000 awarded to the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Colorado Department of Public Safety $500,000 for the investigation and prosecution of cold case sexual assaults.

Bill: Enacted
HB1199 enacted in Colorado

In 2023, legislators in Colorado enacted HB1199. This law establishes a statewide rape kit tracking system. Read our testimony in support of the bill.

2021
Bill: Enacted
HB1143 enacted in Colorado

In 2021, Colorado legislators enacted HB1143, a bill granting survivors the right to be notified, upon request, of the status and location of their forensic evidence. Read our letter of support.

2020
Bill: Failed
HB201228 failed in Colorado

In 2020, legislators introduced HB201228, which would have mandated a study on the implementation of a rape kit tracking system. The bill also would have granted survivors several rights, among them the right to be informed before the destruction of their kits. This bill failed to pass.

2016
News Article
Colorado eliminated backlog of rape test kits, identified suspects in hundreds of old cases

In 2016, the state lab announced it had processed all 3,542 backlogged rape kits, resulting in 1,556 DNA profiles generated and 691 matches to profiles of convicted felons or samples from other cases. With this, Colorado became the first state to end its backlog of untested rape kits.

2015
Inventory
3,542 untested kits found in Colorado

In 2015, CBI reported 3,542 untested rape kits across Colorado. Colorado law does not require law enforcement agencies to track rape kits.

2013
Bill: Enacted
HB1200 enacted in Colorado

HB1200 required all law enforcement agencies to report the number of untested rape kits in their possession to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This law also required the testing of all previously untested kits within 120 days of enactment, and for law enforcement to send new kits for testing within 21 days. In addition, Colorado legislators appropriated $6,351,002 in new funding to clear the state’s backlog of untested kits.

We haven’t filed an Accountability FOIA in this state ⏤ yet.

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