Louisiana

Louisiana has achieved four of six pillars of rape kit reform: inventory of untested kits, the creation of a statewide rape kit tracking system, granting victims the right to know the status and location of their kits, and funding for reform.

Reform Status

Some Reform

Testing Status

Unknown

Untested Kits

Now

Then

* According to a report by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center there were 765 untested kits in Louisiana in 2024.
** According to a media report by NOLA there were 1333 untested kits in Louisiana in 2015.

Pillar Count

4/6 Pillars

Statewide Inventory

Yes, the state has a recurring inventory.

Is the inventory recurring? Yes
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? No
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? Yes
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? Yes
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? No
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.

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State Reform Timeline

2024

We haven’t filed an Accountability FOIA in this state ⏤ yet.

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