Nevada

Nevada has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform, the state is working on clearing its backlog.

Reform Status
Full Reform
Testing Status
In-Process
Untested Kits
Now 223*
Then 7634**
* According to a report by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General there were 223 untested kits in Nevada in 2025.
** According to a report by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General there were 7634 untested kits in Nevada in 2017.

Pillar Count

6/6 Pillars
Nevada has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform, the state is working on clearing its backlog.
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? Yes
  • 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

Yes, the state has committed to testing its backlogged kits.

Nevada is eliminating its backlog through non-legislative means.

Test New Kits

Yes, all newly collected kits are being tested.

  • 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? Not specified
  • According to the law, after being notified, within what time frame is law enforcement required to pick up the kit? Not specified
  • According to the law, after picking the kit up, within what time frame is law enforcement required to submit the kit to the lab? 30 Days
  • According to the law, after receiving the kit, within what time frame is the lab required to test the kit? 120 Days
  • Does the law allow crime labs to outsource kits for testing if they are unable to meet the deadline? Not specified
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? No
  • 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? No
  • 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? No
  • Do victims have the right to receive a physical document identifying their rights under law? Yes
Fund Reform

Yes, the state has allocated ongoing funding.

See state reform timeline below.

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State Reform Timeline

2025
Inventory
223 backlogged kits in Nevada

In July 2025, the SAFE kit biannual report showed that 150 kits were awaiting testing for more than 182 days, and 73 kits were awaiting testing for more than 365 days.

Inventory
309 backlogged kits in Nevada

In January 2025, the SAFE kit biannual report showed that 249 kits were awaiting testing for more than 182 days, and 60 kits were awaiting testing for more than 365 days.

2024
Inventory
281 backlogged kits in Nevada

According to the biannual SAFE Kit Report of July 2024, there were 281 untested kits, with 234 kits waiting for analysis for more than 182 days and 47 of kits waiting for analysis for more than 365 days.

Inventory
489 untested kits in Nevada

In January 2024, the SAFE kit bi-annual report showed that there were 489 backlogged kits in the state.

2020
Inventory
Nevada cleared backlog found in the 2016 inventory

On December 31, 2020, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced that the state of Nevada had cleared its backlog of 7,855 kits identified in the 2016 inventory.

Funding
$261,599 awarded in Nevada

In 2020, BJA awarded the Nevada Attorney General’s Office $261,599 to investigate and prosecute cold case sexual assaults.

2019
Bill: Enacted
SB368 enacted in Nevada

In 2019, Nevada legislators enacted SB368, which created the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. This law grants sexual assault survivors the right to have their kits tested; request to be informed of any results of their medical forensic examination; be informed of evidence preservation policies; and, upon request, defer analysis and preserve the kit for at least 50 years for uncharged or unsolved sexual assault, and at least 20 years for unreported or anonymous sexual assault. Read our letter of support. With this law, Nevada has adopted all six pillars of comprehensive rape kit reform.

Funding
$2 million awarded in Nevada

In 2019, BJA awarded the Nevada Attorney General’s Office $2 million to sustain its work on rape kit reform.

Other
Nevada's rape kit tracking system goes live

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

2018
Non-Legislative Reform
Attorney General launched site for NSAI

In 2018, the Attorney General launched a website for the Nevada Sexual Assault Initiative, tracking the progress of the state’s backlog reduction effort. The website also offers resources for survivors.

Funding
$1 million awarded in Nevada

Additionally in 2018, BJA awarded the Nevada Attorney General’s Office $1 million to sustain its work on on rape kit reform.

2017
Other
213 offender profiles entered into CODIS

As of March 2017, the effort to test these backlogged kits had resulted in 213 offender profiles being entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), 58 DNA matches, 11 arrest warrants, and eight arrests.

Funding
$933,956 awarded in Nevada

In 2017, BJA awarded the Nevada Attorney General’s Office an additional $933,956 to expand their collection of DNA to identify unknown offenders.

Bill: Enacted
AB97 enacted in Nevada

In 2017, Nevada enacted AB97, which requires law enforcement agencies to submit all newly collected kits to the lab within 30 days, and labs to test kits within 120 days of receipt. Each lab must also report annually regarding the number of kits received and the number of kits tested. A statewide tracking system for rape kits, which must allow survivors to anonymously track or receive updates about the status of their rape kits, was also to be created. The department overseeing the tracking system must biannually report on kits in the tracking system, including kits that have been awaiting testing for more than one-and-a-half years. The law also appropriated $3 million to the attorney general to aid labs in reducing the backlog of untested kits.

Inventory
7,634 kits uncovered in Nevada

According to a report by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General there were 7,634 untested kits in Nevada in 2017.

2016
Funding
Over $2 million awarded in Nevada

In 2016, BJA awarded the AG $1,962,414 to sustain this work. In the same year, the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice awarded the Attorney General $523,268 to implement an evidence-management program to inventory, track, and report untested and unsubmitted rape kits.

Inventory
8,000 kits found in Nevada

In 2016, Nevada authorities identified nearly 8,000 untested rape kits statewide.

2015
Funding
$3,700,00 appropriated in Nevada

In 2015, Nevada legislators appropriated nearly $3,700,000 in new funding to test backlogged kits.

Funding
$1,995,874 awarded in Las Vegas

In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office awarded the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) $1,995,874 to test 2,970 kits.

Funding
$1,983,533 awarded in Nevada

Also in 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Nevada Office of the Attorney General (AG) $1,983,533 to test kits, investigate and prosecute cases, and re-engage survivors.

2014
Accountability
Accountability Project uncovered 4,385 kits

In 2014, The Accountability Project issued an open records request to bring the number of untested kits in Las Vegas to light. Through this request, we uncovered a backlog of 4,385 untested kits in Las Vegas.

Accountability

We have issued public records requests, through the Freedom of Information Act, to the following jurisdictions in Nevada to discover whether they possess any untested rape kits.
Target
Request Year
Untested kits discovered
Information received
Las Vegas, NV
2014
4385

More from Nevada

Nevada Legislature Passes Final Step in Statewide Rape Kit Reform
The Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization working to end the backlog of untested rape kits nationwide, today praised the Nevada legislature’s passage of SB 368, which creates a Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights. With Governor Steve Sisolak’s signature, the state will become the latest in the country to enact all six pillars of rape kit reform recommended by Joyful Heart and leaders in this field.
Joyful Heart Applauds Nevada Passage of Rape Kit Reform Measure Into Law
The Joyful Heart Foundation today applauded Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval's signing of AB 97, which takes important steps to reform the way the state addresses untested rape kits in law enforcement custody and strengthens victim access to information regarding the status of their kit. DNA evidence – embodied in a rape kit – is an invaluable investigative tool.
2023 End The Backlog Legislative Update
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 […]