Today, the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization working to end the backlog of untested rape kits nationwide, celebrates the signing of HB4013. We applaud Representative Natalie Higgins, House Speaker Ronald Mariano, and Minority Leader Brad Jones for their hard work shepherding this important language into the bill.
With Governor Charlie Baker’s signature, Massachusetts has made an $8 million investment to test all rape kits in police custody and ensure rape kits reforms enacted in 2018 are implemented successfully. With the passage of the state’s budget bill, Massachusetts has now enacted all six pillars of reform recommended by the Joyful Heart Foundation and leaders in this field.
After announcing Massachusetts as a priority state for rape kit reform only a few months ago, the Joyful Heart Foundation today celebrated the state legislature’s passage of S. 2371, the omnibus criminal justice bill that includes sweeping changes for the handling and processing of sexual assault kits. “Today’s passage is nothing short of extraordinary. Led by House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, Massachusetts has become a national leader in the movement to end the backlog of untested rape kits,” said Sarah Haacke Byrd, Joyful Heart’s Managing Director.
Encourages State to Continue Work on Comprehensive Reform For Immediate Release: October 20, 2016Contact: Melissa Schwartz, media@endthebacklog.org NEW YORK – The Joyful Heart Foundation, a leader in the effort to provide cities and states with the resources they need to address their backlog of rape kits, today applauded Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s signing of H.4364, […]
