For Immediate Release: September 4, 2024 Contact: Olivia Hall, media@endthebacklog.org NEW YORK – Today, the Joyful Heart Foundation celebrates Governor Murphy’s signing of New Jersey bill S1017/A3748 into law. This bi-partisan bill dramatically extends protections throughout the state through ensuring that every survivor who undergoes a sexual assault kit exam is entitled to notification about […]
The Joyful Heart Foundation today applauded New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s signing of S. 1216, which requires a one-time inventory of all untested rape kits in the state. This legislation is New Jersey’s first step toward comprehensive rape kit reform.
The Joyful Heart Foundation, a leader in the effort to eliminate the national rape kit backlog, today criticized law enforcement in Atlantic City, Camden and Trenton for hindering efforts to obtain information about the number of untested sexual assault kits in their custody. “The rape kit backlog represents a failure of the criminal justice system to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable. We can and must do better,” said Ilse Knecht, Director for Policy and Advocacy.
