Our History

Since 2010, Joyful Heart Foundation has maintained one clear, ambitious goal: to eliminate the existing backlog of untested rape kits across the United States and prevent a backlog from ever happening again.

We started this work in 2010 in partnership with the few cities engaged in reform, most notably Detroit. At the time, there was no comprehensive, best practice approach for rape kit reform. Lessons learned from this early work showed the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team approach, and from there, we developed best practices—such as mandating the testing of all kits and establishing rape kit tracking systems—that have served as a model nationally for jurisdictions tackling reform. These best practices have been validated by federal guidelines for the handling of rape kits.

Through this early work, we also came to understand that real, sustainable change requires going beyond individual institutional reform—we must change the whole system. Over time, leadership can change, and practices may slip away from what is written in policy. To ensure that a backlog never develops again, laws must change in every state to codify these best practices.

Our work today is focused on expanding the national dialogue on rape kit testing through increased public awareness; engaging communities and government agencies and officials; and advocating for comprehensive rape kit reform legislation and policies at the local, state, and federal levels.