For Immediate Release: February 2, 2015Contact: Melissa Schwartz, media@joyfulheartfoundation.org NEW YORK – The Joyful Heart Foundation, one of the nation’s leading advocacy organizations working toward nationwide rape kit reform, applauded the release of President Obama’s FY16 budget today, which includes $41 million in funding for the Justice Department’s community-based sexual assault response initiative. DNA evidence […]
Inclusion of $41 Million in Omnibus Spending Bill Follows D.A.’s Commitment of $35 Million Last Month “Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that the invasive examination they underwent had a purpose, and the resulting kit was not left to gather dust on a forgotten shelf. I thank Congressional leaders, sexual assault survivors, and their […]
New York, NY – December 9th, 2014: The Joyful Heart Foundation today celebrated the inclusion of $41 million to address the nation’s rape kit backlog in the FY15 spending bill released by congressional leaders. This new community-based sexual assault response initiative at the Justice Department will provide local communities resources to: test backlogged kits in their […]
The Joyful Heart Foundation tonight celebrated the inclusion of $41 million to address the nation’s rape kit backlog in the FY15 spending bill released by congressional leaders. This new community-based sexual assault response initiative at the Justice Department will provide local communities resources to: test backlogged kits in their police storage facilities; create multi-disciplinary teams to investigate and prosecute cases connected to the backlog; and address the need for victim notification and re-engagement with the criminal justice system.
As we have shared previously, ENDTHEBACKLOG has undertaken a new project—The Accountability Project—to determine whether there are untested rape kits at police departments in 15 U.S. cities. We often hear a variety of reasons why all kits should not be tested: the suspect’s identity was known, the suspect said the sexual contact was consensual, the […]
Today, The Accountability Project, an initiative of our ENDTHEBACKLOG program, released our first findings about the extent of the backlog in four cities—Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Seattle and Tulsa. The Accountability Project aims to bring greater transparency and accountability around rape kit testing practices nationwide. Our work—as well as the results of a CBS News investigation—were […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2014 CONTACT: Melissa Schwartz, media@endthebacklog.org NEW YORK – Today, the Joyful Heart Foundation announced that it has uncovered rape kit backlogs in Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Seattle and Tulsa. The data, obtained through public records requests, shows that thousands of rape kits remain untested in police storage facilities across the country. […]
The Joyful Heart Foundation today spoke out against politics in the U.S. Congress that has stalled new, critical funding to address the nation’s rape kit backlog. As the Senate adjourns this week, it is expected to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government without providing for new programs, including $41 million for a new community-based sexual assault response initiative in Congress’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies FY15 spending bill.
NEW YORK – August 15, 2014 – The Joyful Heart Foundation today applauded the announcement by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that they have formed a partnership to help address the backlog of rape kits across the country. This new partnership will give local and state jurisdictions […]
