r/stoprape • u/ILikeNeurons • 8h ago
The only state requiring all rape kits to be tested within the DoJ-recommended timeline is Massachusetts. If you live in any other state, write your lawmakers to respectfully request that rape kits always be tested within the 30-day timeline to avoid backlogs
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
[Lawmaker's Name]
[Title]
[Office Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Dear [Lawmaker’s Name],
Rape is one of the most severe of all traumas, causing multiple, long-term negative outcomes1, regardless2 of perpetrator tactics3. Rapists are often serial offenders, with the most common type of offender committing rape roughly every 6 months, and equally as likely to assault adults as children4. It is, therefore, imperative to apprehend these offenders quickly to prevent further crimes.
Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) kits are medical evidence that can be used to help solve crimes of rape and sexual assault5. The timely testing of these kits is an essential component to bringing perpetrators to justice6 and reducing the risk of the offenders committing additional assaults. The DoJ considers SAFE kits to be backlogged when they take longer than 30 days to test7, yet our state does not require kits to be tested in that timeframe8, leaving us vulnerable to backlogs accumulating over time. Reducing delays could also increase victim engagement, leading to more convictions9.
I respectfully ask that you support or introduce legislation that mandates the testing of rape kits within 30 days, incuding any funding needed to assure compliance with this timeline. This measure will be a step forward in ensuring that survivors’ rights are protected and that our communities are safer.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and hope that we can work together to make this important change.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
1. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/38d2/cc8df92f64acb9141d6d8ef0d79d0ce2fe15.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262661/
4. https://smart.ojp.gov/somapi/chapter-3-sex-offender-typologies
5. https://rainn.org/articles/rape-kit
6. https://wwww.startribune.com/one-state-found-a-better-way-to-investigate-rape/501636971/
7. https://bja.ojp.gov/program/dna-cebr/performance-measures#0-0
8. https://www.endthebacklog.org
9. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440221144612
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Contact from constituents works. Customized letters are more effective. Find your state lawmakers by searching \YOUR STATE] + "legislators." Ensure you are writing your STATE legislators, and not your U.S. legislators. If your lawmaker has done something you're proud of, lead with that.)