Tennessee Archives

Governor Lee Signs HB0039 into Law Establishing Sweeping Statewide Rape Kit Reform

The Joyful Heart Foundation (Joyful Heart) today applauds Governor Lee in the signing of HB0039 — a bill that gives survivors of sexual assault in Tennessee the right to obtain information about the status of their rape kit, set required kit handling timelines, as well as establish a state-wide rape kit tracking system. After years of working alongside Representative Freeman, other legislators, and local advocacy groups perfecting this bill, Joyful Heart is thrilled with the signing of H.B. 0039 into law.

Tennessee Bill Would Establish Sweeping Statewide Rape Kit Reform

This coming Wednesday, the Tennessee House of Representatives Criminal Justice Subcommittee will be hearing testimony from advocates on H.B. 0039 — a bill that would give survivors of sexual assault in Tennessee the right to obtain information about the status of their rape kit, set required kit handling timelines, as well as establish a state-wide rape kit tracking system. After years of working alongside Representative Freeman, other legislators, and local advocacy groups perfecting this bill, Joyful Heart enthusiastically supports H.B. 0039, which will help keep communities safe and bring answers and information to survivors. 

ENDTHEBACKLOG News: November 2015

Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Summit In October, Joyful Heart was proud to attend and give the keynote speech at the second annual Sexual Assault Kit Summit for Cities, hosted by the Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force. Over 26 jurisdictions from 15 states came together to share and discuss strategies and best practices for addressing […]

Cold Case Convictions: Tennessee

This week in our Cold Case Convictions series, where we highlight cases in which the testing of rape kits years later helps bring perpetrators to justice, we turn to Tennessee. Hendersonville A suspect in a 1985 rape and kidnapping case has finally been brought to justice in Hendersonville, Tennessee. On October 23, 2014, Lane Walter […]

More Than 9,000 Untested Rape Kits Reported in Tennessee

According to a just-released report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), there are more than 9,000 untested rape kits at law enforcement agencies across the state, some dating back to 1985. Legislation passed earlier this year required every law enforcement agency statewide to report the number of untested kits in its facilities.   Memphis […]

End to Rape Kit Backlog Will Serve Healing

This month, Joyful Heart joined officials in Memphis as they announced their commitment to end its backlog. Over the past year, investigations in Memphis have uncovered upwards of 12,000 untested rape kits in police storage facilities. It represents the largest known backlog in a city in the United States, and it is among largest backlogs […]

On Memphis’s 12,000 Untested Rape Kits

Last week, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong announced that the agency has more than 12,000 untested rape kits sitting in storage facilities—about 4,000 more than previously reported—and that it will take more than $4 million to process them all. The story is making headlines across the country. And it’s a familiar one. Detroit had over […]