Indiana

Indiana has adopted just two of the six pillars of reform: inventory of untested kits and statewide tracking system.

Reform Status
Some Reform
Testing Status
Unknown

Pillar Count

2/6 Pillars
Indiana has adopted just two of the six pillars of reform: inventory of untested kits and statewide tracking system.
Statewide Inventory

Yes, the state carried out a one-time inventory.

  • Is the inventory recurring? No
  • Are law enforcement agencies and/or labs required to participate in the inventory? Yes
  • Does the law require to document the date of when each kit was collected? No
  • Does the law require a reason to be given as to why the kit was not submitted to a crime lab for testing? Yes
  • Does the law require untested kits to be counted? Yes
Test Backlogged Kits

No, the state has not committed to testing its backlogged kits.

  • Does the law require law enforcement to submit all untested kits, including those past the statute of limitation, within a certain deadline? n/a
  • Does the law set a deadline for the crime laboratory to complete analysis once a kit has been submitted to the lab? n/a
  • Does the law require kits past the statute of limitations to be sent in for testing? n/a
  • Does the law allow public crime labs to outsource unsubmitted kits? n/a
Test New Kits

No, the state has not mandated testing.

  • According to the law, how much time after a rape kit examination do hospitals have to notify law enforcement that a kit is ready to be picked up? n/a
  • According to the law, after being notified, within what time frame is law enforcement required to pick up the kit? n/a
  • According to the law, after picking the kit up, within what time frame is law enforcement required to submit the kit to the lab? n/a
  • According to the law, after receiving the kit, within what time frame is the lab required to test the kit? n/a
  • Does the law allow crime labs to outsource kits for testing if they are unable to meet the deadline? n/a
Implement Tracking System

Yes, tracking system in use.

  • Does the law state that the tracking system should track initial collection at hospital, inventory and storage by law enforcement, and testing and storage by state labs? Yes
  • Does the law state that the tracking system should track if kit a has been destroyed? Yes
  • Does the law allow all agencies who participate in the tracking system to update the status of a kit? Yes
  • Does the law state that the tracking system should have a victim portal? Yes
  • Does the law require law enforcement, labs, and hospitals to participate in the tracking system? Yes
  • Does the law state that all previously untested kits should be entered into the system? No
Victim's Right To Know

No, the state has not granted victims the right to notice and be informed on the status of their kit.

  • Do victims have the right to receive information of the location, testing date, and testing results of their kit? n/a
  • Do victims have the right to be informed when there is any change in the status of their case? n/a
  • Do victims have the right to receive notification before destruction of their kit? n/a
  • Are victims granted further preservation of the kit or its probative contents? n/a
  • Are victims provided with the contact information for the designated liaison(s) at the corresponding law enforcement agency at the time that a kit is collected? n/a
  • Do victims have the right to receive a physical document identifying their rights under law? n/a
Fund Reform

No, the state has not allocated any of its own funds towards reform.

n/a

Take Action Today to Bring Further Rape Kit Reform to Indiana

State Reform Timeline

2025
Bill: Failed
HB1413 failed in Indiana

In 2025, legislators in Indiana introduced HB1413, which would have required all backlogged kits to be tested before January 1, 2027. The bill also established the rape kit backlog fund which would provide funding to law enforcement agencies and laboratories to eliminate the backlog. Read our letter of support. The bill failed to pass.

Bill: Failed
SB533 failed in Indiana

In 2025, Indiana legislators introduced SB533, which would have established kit handling timelines and enhance survivors’ rights. The bill would have required medical facilities to notify law enforcement within 24 hours for kit pickup, and labs to test kits within 90 days. It also mandated that kits be retained until the statute of limitations expires or until the victim turns 40 if they were a minor at the time of the assault. Additionally, the bill would have established a Rights of Victims of Sexual Assault Commission. The bill failed to pass.

Bill: Failed
HB1093 failed in Indiana

In 2025, legislators in Indiana introduced HB1093, which would grant victims the right to know the results of their kits and require this information to be included in the statewide rape kit tracking system. This bill also would have established a State Sexual Assault Response Team. The bill failed to pass.

Bill: Failed
HB1291 failed in Indiana

In 2025, legislators in Indiana introduced HB1291, which would have required law enforcement agencies to submit an annual inventory report on kits in their possession to the State Police Department superintendent and the legislature. The bill failed to pass.

2024
Bill: Introduced
HB1040 failed in Indiana

In 2024, legislators in Indiana introduced HB1040. This bill would call for an annual inventory of untested kits in the state. It would also mandate the testing of backlogged kits throughout the state, and provide handling timelines for newly collected kits. Finally, it would grant victims the right to be notified on the status of their case. The bill failed to pass.

2022
News Article
6,600 untested kits in Indiana

According to a news report from CBS4 Indy, there are at least 6,600 untested kits in Marion County alone in 2022. The true extent of the backlog in Indiana remains unknown.

Funding
$2,500,000 awarded in Indiana

In 2022, BJA awarded the city of Indianapolis $2,500,000 to sustain its work on rape kit reform.

2021
Inventory
5,000 untested kits found in Indianapolis

According to a media report by Fox 59 there were over 5,000 untested kits in Indianapolis in 2021.

2019
Bill: Enacted
SB424 enacted in Indiana

In 2019, Indiana enacted SB424, which requires law enforcement and prosecutors to provide rape kit updates in the tracking system. The law allows a survivor to register for electronic updates, including notice of rape kit destruction, via the state’s kit-tracking system. Indiana legislators considered additional rape kit reform bills, but these bills failed to pass. Learn more here.

Funding
$1,403,842 awarded in Indiana

In 2019, BJA awarded the city of Indianapolis $1,403,842 to sustain its work on rape kit reform.

Other
Indiana's rape kit tracking goes live

In 2019, Indiana’s rape kit tracking system went live.

2018
Bill: Enacted
SB264 enacted in Indiana

In 2018, Indiana enacted SB264, requiring a study of the feasibility of a statewide tracking system for rape kits.

Bill: Failed
HB1121 failed in Indiana

Legislators also introduced HB1121, which would have mandated annual inventory reports of rape kits collected across the state, but this bill failed to pass.

2017
Bill: Enacted
Senate Resolution 55 adopted in Indiana, resulting in identification of 4,980 backlogged kits

In 2017, the Indiana Senate adopted Senate Resolution 55, requesting a one-time statewide audit of untested rape kits. The inventory report, published in November 2017, identified 4,980 backlogged rape kits connected to reported crimes across the state.

2015
Accountability
Accountability Project issued records request to Gary Police Report

In 2015, The Accountability Project issued an open records request to the Gary Police Department. The Gary Police Department has not responded to our 2014 records request. As of March 2017, we have closed our inquiry.

2014
Accountability
Accountability Project found 5,006 untested kits

In 2014, The Accountability Project issued an open records request to bring the number of untested rape kits in Indianapolis to light. Through this request, we uncovered a backlog of 5,006 untested kits in Indianapolis.

2007
Bill: Enacted
HB1655 enacted in Indiana

In 2007, Indiana passed HB1655, which requires law enforcement to pick up a rape kit within 48 hours after receiving a notification from the medical facility; transport the kit to “secured storage;” and keep it at least one year, or until the survivor reports the crime to law enforcement and the sample is transported to a crime lab, whichever is earlier. The law also requires the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s Victim Services Division to notify the survivor before kit destruction.

Accountability

We have issued public records requests, through the Freedom of Information Act, to the following jurisdictions in Indiana to discover whether they possess any untested rape kits.
Target
Request Year
Untested kits discovered
Information received
2014
5006
Request Denied
2015
Unknown