Federal funds will aid with Pennsylvania’s effort to create a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system.
On Monday, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, a Democrat, stood with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and victim advocates to announce $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will be used for the system that officials said will “increase accountability and transparency.”
The new system follows flaws in rape kit tracking and testing that plagued Pennsylvania and other states for years.
Last year, legislation signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, called for the establishment of an electronic statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system through the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Health. The law requires survivors of sexual violence to track rape kits during the testing process.
“If a victim is able to summon the strength to go through the process of getting a sexual assault examination and file a police report, they deserve to know their rape kit is being handled with care and attention, that their case is a priority,” Davis said at a press conference in the Capitol. “Here in Pennsylvania, we’re reducing the backlog of processing rape kits, but there’s much more work to be done.”
In addition, the bill, which was sponsored by Republican State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., of Cambria County, would mandate reporting by the state police.
“This rape kit tracking system will allow sexual assault survivors to track the progress of their kits throughout an investigation,” Langerholc said. “The $2.5 million federal grant from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative will help launch the system sooner, ensuring faster access for survivors.”
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris said the grant and new system will make sure there is transparency for victims.
“Every victim of crime deserves respect, dignity, and the assurance that their case will be handled with professionalism and compassion, with a steadfast pursuit of justice,” Paris said.
If a sexual assault report is made to police, the victim may undergo a sexual assault forensic exam, or “rape kit,” performed by trained staff at hospitals and health care facilities.
The new law and federal funding will work to reduce the amount of unsubmitted and partially tested sexual assault kits in the state.
The money will not just be used for the new system, but also for training and technical assistance support provided to rape crisis programs, hospitals, law enforcement, and other key stakeholders.
Gabriella Romeo, public policy director for Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect, which has supported a rape kit tracking system, said the new system and funding will help victims.
“This system provides survivors with transparency and accountability as well as advances Pennsylvania as a leader in supporting sexual assault survivors. It takes courage to come forward and get a forensic exam. Survivors having the option and ability to check on the status of their evidence may be very empowering and can be a step toward healing by helping survivors feel more in control,” she said.
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