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What impact would rape kit tracking have on investigations and survivors?

  • Scott LaMar
This Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, sexual assault evidence collection kits are shown during committee meeting at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City.

 Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

This Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, sexual assault evidence collection kits are shown during committee meeting at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City.

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Airdate: Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Legislation was introduced last week in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to create a statewide rape kit tracking system. What impact would it have on sexual assault investigations and survivors?

For years, Pennsylvania had a backlog of rape kits that went untested. As a result, hundreds of cases went unsolved. Not only did survivors not get justice but rapists could rape again.

Progress has been made in testing the backlog of rape kits, but proponents say more needs to be done to keep survivors informed.

Only 25 out of every thousand rapists end up in prison. Thirty states and Washington D.C. have rape kit tracking systems.

Wednesday’s Smart Talk focuses what a rape kit tracking system would do. Joining us on the program are the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s Medical Advocacy Coordinator, Barbara Sheaffer and Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Donna Greco.

 

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