Why Accountability

Joyful Heart aims to create a full picture of the number of untested rape kits across the country, so reform can take place. The true extent of the backlog has been difficult to discover, because not all states require counting or tracking of rape kits. Since 2014, we have been focused on uncovering neglected kits in local jurisdictions.

Often, when a community discovers that it has a backlog, stakeholders come together and address it; knowing there is a backlog is the critical first step to comprehensive rape kit reform. We seek to hold law enforcement agencies accountable for the untested kits in their facilities. On a deeper level, we aim to bring greater transparency and accountability around rape kit testing practices nationwide.

With the help of our pro bono partner Goodwin LLP, we have issued public records requests to police and sheriff departments and labs in over 100 jurisdictions, to reveal whether they possess any untested rape kits. We also ask about rape kit testing policies to bring greater transparency around rape kit testing practices nationwide. We seek to hold law enforcement and labs accountable for the untested kits they possess.

Each untested kit represents a missed opportunity to bring justice and healing to a survivor, and increased safety to a community.