Pillar: Fund Reform

Resources are necessary to test rape kits, investigate cases, prosecute offenders, and provide survivors with ongoing support services. While federal funding is currently available for jurisdictions working to eliminate their backlogs, public safety and the welfare of the general public is a primary responsibility of state governments. State legislatures must ensure full funding for rape kit reform, as funds from the federal government are only temporary and may not be sufficient to address all needed reforms on an ongoing basis.

This work takes political will, but it also takes significant resources. Implementation of state laws often depends on whether law enforcement, crime labs, and prosecutors receive additional resources and funding dedicated to clearing the backlog and pursuing leads. We urge legislators to fully fund reforms to end the rape kit backlog through their state budgets.

While it costs money to test rape kits, it also saves communities money. One study conducted by Case Western University found that each kit tested in Cuyahoga County produced an estimated net savings of $8,893 to the community, totaling $38.7 million saved. West Virginia University found that testing backlogged kits can produce an astounding 65,000% return on investment, making processing every rape kit one of the most effective uses of state funds.  

Investing in testing backlogged kits and pursuing justice today will lead to safer communities and significant savings tomorrow.

The following states and Washington, D.C. have appropriated funds for rape kit reform: 

Joyful Heart works with state legislators to enact comprehensive rape kit legislation based on six pillars of reform. We have created model legislation, offering a survivor-centered, trauma-informed approach to rape kit reform at the state level. Click here to learn more.