END THE BACKLOG is an initiative of the JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION
Iowa
Iowa has achieved four of six pillars of reform. To achieve comprehensive reform, it must commit to testing its backlogged kits and mandate the testing of newly collected kits.
Iowa has achieved four of six pillars of reform. To achieve comprehensive reform, it must commit to testing its backlogged kits and mandate the testing of newly collected kits.
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?
Yes
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
Yes, the state has 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?
Yes
Do victims have the right to be informed when there is any change in the status of their case?
No
Do victims have the right to receive notification before destruction of their kit?
Yes
Are victims granted further preservation of the kit or its probative contents?
No
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?
Yes
Do victims have the right to receive a physical document identifying their rights under law?
No
Fund Reform
Yes, the state has allocated one-time funding.
See state reform timeline below.
Take Action Today to Bring Further Rape Kit Reform to Iowa
In 2025, legislators in Iowa introduced two bills. SF191 would mandate an annual rape kit inventory report, improve kit handling timelines, allow kits to be outsourced to private laboratories for testing, and require kits to be stored for a minimum of 50 years. HF356 would establish rape kit handling and processing timelines. This bill would require hospitals to notify law enforcement agencies within 24 hours of a rape kit being collected; law enforcement to pick up the kit within 3 days and submit to the lab within 7 days; and labs to test kits within 30 days. The bill would also allow labs to outsource kits if they are unable to meet the deadline, and require kits to be stored for 50 years. Both bills failed to pass.
In 2024, Senator Janet Petersen introduced SF2177. This bill would have mandated the testing of newly collected rape kits. Medical Facilities would need to notify Law enforcement agencies within 24 hours of carrying out a sexual assault kit exam. Law enforcement would then have to pick up the kit from hospitals within 3 days and transfer the kit to the forensic lab within 7 days. The lab would then have to test the kit within 30 days. This bill would also call for an inventory of sexual assault kits in Iowa. The bill failed to pass.
In 2024, legislators in Iowa introduced HF2350. This bill would have mandated that sexual assault kits should be stored for 20 years. It would have also granted victims the right to be informed no later that 60 days before the intended date of disposal of the kit. Under this bill victims would also be able to request further preservation of their kit. The bill failed to pass.
In 2023, legislators in Iowa introduced HF441. This bill would create rape kit testing timelines. The bill would mandate hospitals must notify law enforcement within 24 hours of collecting a sexual assault exam kit. Police would then be required to pick up the kit in three days and drop it off at the lab within 7 days. Under the bill, the lab would required to test the kit within 30 days; the lab is permitted to outsource kits to private labs for testing. The bill failed to pass.
In 2021, Iowa legislators introduced HF426 and SB1002. The bills established a tracking system with a survivor portal and mandated all agencies in the chain of custody to participate. The bills also granted survivors the right to be notified of their kits’ results, and before kit disposal. Under these bills, kits have to be retained for at least 30 days and up to 15 years. These bills were enacted into law.
In 2018, legislators introduced SF2220, which would have mandated the submission and testing of all newly collected rape kits, granted survivors the right to be informed of changes in the status of their rape kits, and required the Department of Public Safety to develop a statewide tracking system by January 2019. This bill failed to pass.
In 2017, Iowa legislators amended the law by enacting SF516 to require that all backlogged kits identified in the audit be maintained indefinitely. The bill also allocated $200,000 to expedite the processing of rape kits.
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice awarded the Iowa Department of Justice $796,985 to develop an electronic, statewide tracking system for rape kits.
In 2016, BJA awarded the Iowa Department of Justice an additional $1 million to sustain this work. In March 2018, the state launched the Iowa SAKI website, which offers resources for stakeholders and reports progress on testing backlogged kits.
In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded $2 million to the Iowa Department of Justice to test kits, investigate and prosecute cases, and re-engage survivors.
We haven’t filed an Accountability FOIA in this state ⏤ yet.
Want to advocate for accountability in your state?
THE JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM MILLER OF IOWA The author of this post is Attorney General Tom Miller of Iowa. In 2016 the state carried out a comprehensive inventory of sexual assault kits. In this post, AG Miller walks us through the inventory process and talks about the implementation of a rape […]
As the state legislative sessions are ending or paused for a summer break, we look back at our achievements this year. 29 states and Puerto Rico introduced 50 bills related to our six pillars of comprehensive sexual assault kit reform. Out of these, 12 states passed 15 laws. This year, Mississippi enacted its first ever […]
In the 2022 session, we rebuilt our website endthebacklog.org, wrote an academic book chapter and “The State of the Backlog” report, while successfully advocating for rape kit reform across the country. “The State of the Backlog” report provides a birds-eye view of rape kit reform field, focusing on what we have started, where we have […]
