Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 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

Pillar Count

6/6 Pillars
Pennsylvania 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? 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

In-Process, the state has 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? Yes
  • Does the law set a deadline for the crime laboratory to complete analysis once a kit has been submitted to the lab? Yes
  • Does the law require kits past the statute of limitations to be sent in for testing? No
  • Does the law allow public crime labs to outsource unsubmitted kits? Yes
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? 72 Hours
  • According to the law, after picking the kit up, within what time frame is law enforcement required to submit the kit to the lab? 15 Days
  • According to the law, after receiving the kit, within what time frame is the lab required to test the kit? 6 Months
  • Does the law allow crime labs to outsource kits for testing if they are unable to meet the deadline? Not specified
Implement Tracking System

In-Process, the state is developing a tracking system.

  • 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? 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

Yes, the state has allocated ongoing funding.

See state reform timeline below.

Take Action Today to Bring Further Rape Kit Reform to Pennsylvania

State Reform Timeline

2024
Inventory
233 backlogged kits in Pennsylvania

According to the 2025 Department of Health report, there were 233 untested kits still in law enforcement custody by the end of 2024. This is a 27 percent decrease from the end of 2023.

Funding
$2.5 million awarded in Pennsylvania

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency $2.5 million to implement the statewide rape kit tracking system.

Bill: Enacted
SB920 enacted in Pennsylvania

In 2024, Pennsylvania enacted SB920. This bill establishes a statewide rape kit tracking system with a victim portal. Read our letter of support here. With this bill, the state reached full reform status.

2023
Inventory
317 backlogged kits in Pennsylvania

According to the 2024 Department of Health report, there were 317 untested kits by the end of 2023. This is a 79 percent increase from the end of 2022.

Funding
$1,000,000 awarded to the Allegheny County

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded Allegheny County $1,000,000 to improve the efficiency of sexual assault investigations and to ensure a victim centered approach in dealing with cases.

2022
Report
186 backlogged kits uncovered in Pennsylvania

According to the 2022 Department of Health Report, there were 186 backlogged sexual assault kits awaiting testing at the end of 2021. This is a 22 percent increase over the number of backlogged kits compared to the end of 2020.

Bill: Enacted
HB2032 enacted in Pennsylvania

In 2022, the Pennsylvania governor signed HB2032. This bill mandates the State Police, alongside Pennsylvania’s Coalition Against Rape, to conduct a study that examines the resources required to implement a rape kit tracking system.

2019
Bill: Enacted
SB399 enacted in Pennsylvania

In 2019, the Pennsylvania governor signed SB399, which built on the existing law by establishing submission and testing times for anonymous rape kits and kits for which the jurisdiction is unclear. The new law required the state police to annually conduct an untested rape kit audit, instead of biannually as previous law required, and to include a review of current rape kit evidence collection practices every two years. The bill also granted survivors the right to be informed at least 60 days prior to destruction of a rape kit and to have a rape kit preserved without charge; to receive written information on policies regarding the collection and preservation of rape kits; to consult with a sexual assault counselor; and to receive information on protective orders, victim compensation, and restitution. It also required the attorney general to develop protocols for notifying survivors about their rights.

Funding
$493,227 awarded in Pennsylvania

In 2019, BJA awarded Allegheny County $493,227 to sustain its work on rape kit reform.

2017
Bill: Enacted
SR75 adopted in Pennsylvania

In 2017, the Pennsylvania Senate adopted resolution SR75, directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study how many rape kits remained untested across the state, and evaluate compliance with the existing testing law.

Non-Legislative Reform
Governor directed hiring of additional DNA technicians

In 2017, Governor Tom Wolf directed the state police to hire additional DNA testing technicians through the DNA Detection Fund, which allocated $2.4 million in the 2018-2019 Executive Budget, and an additional $1 million in the 2019-2020 Executive Budget. The fund would continue to provide support to state police to carry out duties regarding DNA testing and handling.

Funding
$910,945 awarded in Pennsylvania

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the City of Philadelphia Police Department $910,945 to fund the analysis of untested rape kits.

2016
Inventory
1,214 kits found in Pennsylvania

In 2016, the annual audit identified 1,214 untested kits that had been awaiting testing for one year or more, with nearly double the participation of the previous audit. Pennsylvania law does not require law enforcement agencies to track rape kits.

2015
Inventory
3,044 kits found in Pennsylvania

In 2015, a preliminary audit found 3,044 untested rape kits statewide. The following year, the Pennsylvania auditor general released a report highlighting challenges with the audit, including low participation rates from local law enforcement agencies.

Funding
$674,225 awarded in Pennsylvania

In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office awarded the Philadelphia Police Department $419,788 to test 600 previously unprocessed rape kits. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office also received $254,437 to test 400 kits.

Bill: Enacted
HB272 enacted in Pennsylvania

In 2015, Pennsylvania enacted HB272, requiring hospitals to notify local law enforcement of rape kits collected as soon as is practical, and law enforcement to collect the rape kits from health care providers within 72 hours of receiving notice. The kits then must be submitted to a laboratory within 15 days, and the lab must complete testing within six months of receipt. The law required law enforcement agencies to report the number of untested kits in their inventories to the Department of Health within six months, and submit these untested kits to the lab within one year of reporting. The lab was then required to complete testing of backlogged kits within three years of receipt. Law enforcement was also to report annually on untested kits in their inventory. The law also improved survivor notification practices by ensuring survivors have the right to be informed when their evidence is submitted for testing, to be notified when a DNA sample is entered into the DNA database, and to be notified of a match to an offender.

2014
Accountability
Accountability Project issued records request in Pennsylvania

In 2014, The Accountability Project issued an open records request to bring the number of untested kits in Philadelphia to light. Through this request, we uncovered that Philadelphia had a policy of testing all rape kits.

Accountability

We have issued public records requests, through the Freedom of Information Act, to the following jurisdictions in Pennsylvania to discover whether they possess any untested rape kits.
Target
Request Year
Untested kits discovered
Information received
2014
123