Testing Rape Kits Saves Communities Millions

A 2016 study by the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University analyzed the cost of testing backlogged rape kits in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Factoring in the cost of testing kits and other related expenses, the study calculated the overall cost effectiveness of testing 4,347 unsubmitted kits, engaging survivors, investigating every lead, and prosecuting cases. The study found that each kit tested produced an estimated net savings of $8,893 to the community. Cuyahoga County saved $38.7 million by testing 4,437 backlogged kits, investigating every case, prosecuting offenders, and preventing them from committing future crimes.

Another study in 2018 demonstrated a substantial return on investment in processing sexual assault kits, confirming that carrying out comprehensive rape kit reform is cheaper for communities in the long run. Lovell and colleagues (2018) explain that rape is costly to victims and includes psychological and logistical costs including medical expenses, lost workdays, and out-of-pocket expenses, making prevention of future rapes crucial. The researchers then compared the costs to the victim to the costs of testing a rape kit and found that the cost to the victim is more than 92 times higher than the cost of testing and investigating the rape kit. Savings come from following up the testing with thorough investigations and prosecutions to get offenders off the street and thereby prevent future rapes (Lovell et al., 2018).

In 2019, Dr. Paul J. Speaker of West Virginia University conducted a study that demonstrates enormous economic returns for communities that invest state dollars in testing kits swiftly. The study shows that processing every rape kit could be one of the most effective uses of state funds. Testing backlogged rape kits can produce an astounding 65,000% return on investment. Researchers have estimated that testing every rape kit could save states more than $400,000 per averted assault (Wang, Wein, 2018). Additional research has found that adding the DNA of just one offender to DNA databases provides savings to society that may be as high as $20,000 per submission (Doleac, 2016).

Researchers have estimated that testing every rape kit could save states more than $400,000 per averted assault