Locating a Rape Kit

If you are a survivor with an open case, and underwent a rape kit examination, you deserve to know what is happening with your kit. We know that many survivors feel very strongly that their kits belong to them and that knowing where their kits are is important to healing.

Many states have enacted laws that recognize the importance of survivors having access to kit information. A list of these states can be found here. If your state grants survivors the right to know the status of their kits, then you have the right to receive information on the whereabouts and status of your kit. In this case, law enforcement (or possibly other entities required under the law) are required to inform you where your kit is in the process. In some states, you have the right to know when it has been sent to the lab, if it’s been tested, and if any DNA was found.

Your state may have a rape kit tracking system which allows you to see where your kit is, just like you can track a package on Amazon. Here is an exhaustive list of states that have rape kit tracking systems. If your state has a tracking system, ask the medical facility that collected the kit, the detective, or prosecutor assigned to your case if your kit is in the tracking system and, if so, what your specific tracking number is.

If your state does not have a tracking system, or a victim’s right to know law, you still deserve to get information on your kit. Start by asking for the detective or prosecutor assigned to your case. Try to get a police report number, the criminal court case number (if one has been assigned), or any number associated with the kit to use as a reference when calling for future updates. Some survivors have been able to access information about their kits directly through the police department, but generally only after making multiple inquiries, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

If the statute of limitations for your case has expired and it can no longer be prosecuted, you can still contact the detective or prosecutor assigned to your case to tell them you would like to know about the results of any testing on the rape kit. Even if your case will not move forward, DNA evidence from your kit may link the perpetrator to other cases that can still be prosecuted. If the offender is already incarcerated for other crimes, the DNA evidence from your case may affect decisions relating to parole.

Many survivors have found it helpful to work with victim advocates from their local sexual assault crisis center. Advocates can make phone calls and arrange meetings for you, and they often have working relationships with medical facilities, law enforcement, and prosecutors.