2019 FOIA Request
Why did we send the FOIA?
In 2019, in accordance with state law, the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) reported finding 387 untested rape kits across Massachusetts, with only 87 out of more than 400 law enforcement agencies reporting. To uncover the true extent of the backlog in Massachusetts, in that same year, Joyful Heart issued public records requests to police departments in the largest 15 cities in the state and the State Police Crime Laboratory as part of The Accountability Project.
What did we discover?
Quincy PD stated that they currently have seven unreported kits that are not submitted to the crime lab out of 319 received between 1990 and 2019. Three of the unsubmitted kits were collected in 2018, while four were collected in 2019. They did not provide any further information on the unreported kits, such as how long they will be storing them, or whether victims were notified about their rights around unreported kits. They reported to have no lost or destroyed kits.
More Accountability Targets in Massachusetts
Boston, MABrockton, MACambridge, MAFall River, MAHaverhill, MALawrence, MALowell, MALynn, MAMalden, MANew Bedford, MANewton, MASomerville, MASpringfield, MAState Police Crime Lab, MAWaltham, MAWorcester, MA
Why Accountability?
Right now, we do not know the full extent of the national rape kit backlog because few states require law enforcement agencies to count, track, or test rape kits. The Accountability Project aims to bring greater transparency and accountability to rape kit testing practices across the country.