Accountability

Joyful Heart’s work to end the rape kit backlog centers on accountability and transparency. We shine a light on the problem by making public the number of untested kits in jurisdictions across the country.  For the last nine years, in more than 100 locations, Joyful Heart has issued public records requests to police and sheriff’s departments, as well as state labs, requesting a count of the untested kits in their custody. In addition, we dig deep into the thinking, practices, and policies that led to the problem and raise awareness around them. In tandem, we strive to change these practices and policies to make sure the backlog never happens again.

After laws are passed to improve the handling of rape kits and the system’s response to sexual assault, Joyful Heart takes steps to ensure that stakeholders are in compliance with the laws. When we find noncompliance, we work to fix it. Sometimes, this means engaging the media to inspire public outcry. 

Demanding transparency and accountability are key to ending the backlog and making sure it never happens again.