Increase funding for rape kits in Minnesota.

 

Increase funding for rape kits in Minnesota so it can lead to faster testing of more kits in forensic labs, which can

solve crimes and help prosecute offenders. It would also help strengthen victim services, improve statewide tracking

systems for accountability, and support law enforcement in catching sex offenders.

 

Every 68 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in the United States. In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, a

survivor may choose to undergo a medical forensic examination to collect evidence left behind in the assault. A doctor

or nurse will conduct the examination, which can last between four and six hours, and collect evidence in what is

commonly called a rape kit. Survivors who take this intrusive and extensive step expect that their rape kits will be

tested. The public expects the same. Too often, however, rape kits are left untested on evidence room shelves.

However in Minnesota, if our state mandates the testing of previously untested kits or clears its backlog, it will

achieve exponential rape kit reform. Meaning, years worth of undocumented and unsolved cases of rape or other sexual

crimes can be prosecuted and brought to light. Rape kits can also go to through the lab and give results to the survivor

within just a few days, compared to the aimed 90 days that originally exists today. That means we also catch sexual

assault criminals much faster and more effectively, with police being more motivated to continue investigations with

more money work through the system. Faster results also lead to faster arrests or clear up confusion on who should be

arrested. On a further level, survivors' wounds can be identified quicker and can be treated by a hospital if given the

recommendation by forensic experts.

 

 

-A backlog is an accumulation of something, especially uncompleted work or matters that need to be dealt with.

-A state grant is funding provided by a specific state government to an eligible recipient (like an individual,

organization, or local government) to support a project or public purpose, which does not have to be repaid, provided

the recipient meets specific conditions.

-Sexual assault kits (SAKs) are evidence collected from victims, and the backlog refers to kits that are not tested in a

timely manner. For examination, first, the examiner gets a thorough medical history from the survivor. The survivor

stands on a large sheet of paper while undressing in order to catch any hair or fiber evidence that may fall from

her/his body. The survivor’s clothing and the sheet are collected for testing of hair, fibers, and any additional

evidence. During the physical examination, any injuries from the attack are documented and treated, and evidence is

collected. The examiner collects biological evidence such as saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells, and hair by taking

swabs of the survivor’s skin, genitalia, anus, and mouth, scraping under the survivor’s fingernails and brushing through

the survivor’s hair. The survivor’s body is photographed head to toe to keep evidence of bruising and injuries. It is

important to note that any or all parts of this examination can be declined at any point. When the forensic medical

examination is complete, the evidence collected is carefully packaged and labeled to prevent contamination.

The contents of the kit vary from state to state, but most kits include the following items:

-Detailed instructions for the examiner

-Forms for documenting the procedure and evidence gathered

-Tubes and containers for blood and urine samples

-Paper bags for collecting clothing and other physical evidence

-Swabs for biological evidence collection

-A large sheet of paper on which the victim undresses to collect hairs and fibers

-Dental floss and wooden sticks for fingernail scrapings

-Glass slides

-Sterile water and saline

-Envelopes, boxes, and labels for each of the various stages of the exam

 

 

$10 million through Minnesota State funding to the laboratories who regulate the examination of rape kits to create more

rape kits and speed up the process by motivating the forensic scientists.

 

 

Enforcement for rape kit funding is primarily managed through state grants, with federal programs like the Debbie Smith

Act and the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) providing grants to states and localities for testing, tracking, and

victim services.

 

 

June 1st, 2027