For the past decade, the U.S. government has allocated approximately $350 million in grants to assist local and state agencies in testing neglected evidence from sexual assaults. The program, known as the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, aimed to bring closure to victims and lock up perpetrators. However, the results have been underwhelming.
Despite receiving funding, many areas like Greenville, North Carolina, Austin, and Alaska have reported minimal convictions from their backlogged rape kits. Additionally, the promise of closure for victims has not been fully realized, with most victims unaware of the status of their kits.
There is a debate on the best practices for victim notification, with some agencies contacting all victims and others only reaching out in specific circumstances. The notification rates vary significantly across different regions, with some areas reporting low percentages of victims contacted.
While some agencies prioritize victim notification, others struggle to effectively communicate with survivors. The disparity in approaches highlights the challenges faced in addressing the rape kit backlog across the country.
Sources: USA TODAY analysis, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grantees.
Read more: America tested 100,000 forgotten rape kits. But justice remains elusive.