Utah

Utah has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform and is working on clearing its backlog of untested kits.

Reform Status
Full Reform
Testing Status
Complete

Pillar Count

6/6 Pillars
Utah has achieved all six pillars of rape kit reform and is working on clearing its backlog of untested kits.
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

Yes, the state has eliminated its backlog.

Utah eliminated 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? 1 Day
  • 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? Not specified
  • 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? No
  • 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? No
Fund Reform

Yes, the state has allocated ongoing funding.

See state reform timeline below.

Take Action Today to Bring Further Rape Kit Reform to Utah

State Reform Timeline

2025
Inventory
0 backlogged kits at crime lab

In 2025, the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services received and completed testing of 1,262 kits, with a median turnaround time of 57 days. This brings the number of backlogged kits at the lab to 0.

2024
Funding
$2,492,808 awarded in Utah

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Utah Department of Public Safety nearly $2.5 million to expand its efforts to address unresolved violent cold case crimes.

2023
Inventory
217 backlogged kits at crime lab

In 2023, the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services received 1,156 kits and completed testing of 939 kits. This brings the number of backlogged kits at the lab to 217. Median turnaround time was 79 days.

2020
Inventory
Utah cleared backlog

In September 2020, Utah cleared its backlog of untested kits.

Funding
$1.5 million awarded in Utah

In 2020, BJA awarded the Department of Public Safety an additional $1.5 million to sustain its work on rape kit reform.

2019
Other
Utah adopted all six pillars of rape kit reform

In 2019, Joyful Heart determined that Utah had adopted all six pillars of comprehensive rape kit reform. Since the implementation of HB200 in 2017, Utah periodically reports the number of untested kits in the state, fulfilling the inventory pillar.

2018
Other
Utah's tracking system goes live

In 2018, Utah’s tracking system went live.

2017
Funding
$2,208,493 awarded in Utah

In 2017, BJA awarded the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice an additional $2,208,493 to sustain its work.

Bill: Enacted
HB200 enacted in Utah

In 2017, Utah enacted HB200, requiring law enforcement agencies to submit all newly collected rape kits to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services for testing within 30 days of receipt. The bill required the creation of a statewide tracking system for rape kits, including a means for survivors to anonymously track or receive updates regarding the status of their kits. Health care providers are required to enter information about newly collected kits into this tracking system within 24 hours of kit collection, and law enforcement agencies are required to enter information within five days of receiving them. Additionally, the bill outlined requirements for the handling of restricted (or unreported) kits, required the development of law enforcement training, and required annual reporting regarding the processing of rape kits. The bill also appropriated $1.2 million to fund these reforms. Read our letter of support.

2015
Funding
$3,271,550 awarded in Utah

In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office awarded the Utah Department of Public Safety (Bureau of Forensic Services) $1,271,870 to test 1,859 rape kits. Also in 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice $1,999,680 to test kits, investigate and prosecute cases, and re-engage survivors.

2014
Report
2,700 kits found in Salt Lake City

In 2014, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah had an estimated backlog of 2,700 untested rape kits.

Bill: Enacted
HB157 enacted in Utah

Utah enacted HB157, which granted survivors the right to be informed whether a DNA profile was obtained from testing rape kit evidence, whether the profile was uploaded into the DNA database, and whether the profile matched another profile in the database. The law also required law enforcement agencies to notify survivors when they do not intend to analyze rape kit evidence in cases where the perpetrator is unknown.

Funding
$750,000 appropriated in Utah

In 2014, Utah legislators appropriated $750,000 to test backlogged kits in Fiscal Year 2015.

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

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