2017 FOIA Request
Why did we send the FOIA?
In 2017, Joyful Heart issued public records requests to numerous law enforcement agencies in California to uncover the number of untested kits in their custody and demonstrate the need to conduct a statewide inventory and mandate the testing of newly collected rape kits. In 2018, California enacted AB3118, sponsored by Joyful Heart and our partners, which required a one time inventory. The same year, Joyful Heart determined that there were 13,615 untested kits based on a national grant funding report and The Accountability Project.
What did we discover?
In September 2017, San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) provided evidence management system records of all sexual assault kits received between 1984 and 2011. These records do not indicate whether the kits were submitted for testing. Despite follow-up efforts, we were unable to determine the extent of the backlog in San Bernardino. On January 1, 2016, a law encouraging law enforcement to submit all newly collected rape kits for testing went into effect in California. From the information provided by SBPD, it is not possible to determine whether the agency is following the encouragement of the law.
More Accountability Targets in California
Bakersfield, CAConcord, CACorona, CAFremont, CAFresno, CAFullerton, CAGarden Grove, CAGlendale, CAHayward, CALong Beach, CAOrange, CAOxnard, CAPasadena, CAPomona, CARedding, CASacramento, CASalinas, CASan Diego, CASan Jose, CASanta Barbara, CASanta Cruz, CASanta Monica, CASanta Rosa, CAShasta County, CASimi Valley, CAStockton, CATorrance, CAVallejo, CAVisalia, CA
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.