New Hampshire

The state of New Hampshire has achieved two of the six pillars of rape kit reform: victims’ rights to know the status of their kits and the creation of a rape kit tracking system.

Reform Status
Some Reform
Testing Status
Unknown
Untested Kits
Now Unknown*
Then 582**

Pillar Count

2/6 Pillars
The state of New Hampshire has achieved two of the six pillars of rape kit reform: victims’ rights to know the status of their kits and the creation of a rape kit tracking system.
Statewide Inventory

No, the state has not carried out an inventory.

  • Is the inventory recurring? n/a
  • Are law enforcement agencies and/or labs required to participate in the inventory? n/a
  • Does the law require to document the date of when each kit was collected? n/a
  • Does the law require a reason to be given as to why the kit was not submitted to a crime lab for testing? n/a
  • Does the law require untested kits to be counted? n/a
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.

New Hampshire established a rape kit tracking system through non-legislative means.

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? 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? Yes
Fund Reform

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

n/a

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State Reform Timeline

2022
Other
New Hampshire's rape kit tracking system goes live

In 2022, New Hampshire’s tracking system went live, developed through non-legislative means.

2020
Bill: Failed
HB1378 failed in New Hampshire

In 2020, legislators introduced HB1378, which would have established a committee to study oversight authority and timelines for the processing and retention of rape kits. This bill failed to pass.

2019
Inventory
582 untested kits found in New Hampshire

According to a media report by the Concord Monitor there were 582 untested kits in New Hampshire in 2019.

2018
Bill: Enacted
SB391 enacted in New Hampshire

In 2018, New Hampshire enacted SB391, which granted sexual assault survivors the right to notice about the testing status and results of their rape kits. Under the new law, survivors would be informed of policies regarding kit collection and preservation; upon written request, receive notice no later than 60 days before rape kit disposal; and, upon written request, be granted further preservation of the kit.

Funding
$333,558 awarded in New Hampshire

Also in 2018, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded the New Hampshire Department of Justice $333,558 to implement an evidence-management program to inventory, track, and report untested kits.

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

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