Cohen Secures $4 Million Help Eliminate Rape Kit Backlog in House Appropriations Bill

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Late this evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved on a voice vote an amendment to the 2016 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill authored by Congressman Steve Cohen’s (TN-09) to secure $4 million for to local law enforcement agencies working to reduce their backlogs of untested rape kits. Untested rape kits are a significant public safety hazard that prevents law enforcement from apprehending violent criminals, increases the risk of additional crimes, and robs victims of the justice they deserve. Video of the Congressman introducing and speaking in support of his amendment, which was cosponsored by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), is available here.

“Something is wrong with our criminal justice system when rapists are allowed to roam free—and attack other victims—simply because the evidence needed to find and convict them sits on a shelf somewhere,” said Congressman Cohen. “Testing these kits can help catch criminals and prevent additional attacks, but across the country the resources to fully test each and every one have not always been available. I am proud to champion this program to provide victims of sexual assault some degree of justice and am pleased that Democrats and Republics came together to help make this critical funding available.”

“As an author of the Debbie Smith Act and the SAFER Act, I have been working for years to eliminate the rape kit backlog,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney. “There are thousands of rape kits sitting in crime lab storage rooms across the country. Each time we fail to test a kit, we deny justice and a sense of security to the survivors of sexual assault. We also allow repeat offenders to roam our streets and victimize others. This measure will prevent countless tragedies and save lives. I am so proud to work with Congressman Cohen on this amendment.”

The Congressman’s deficit-neutral amendment transfers $4 million in Fiscal Year 2016 federal funds to a grant program created focused specifically on helping law enforcement agencies and cut through their sexual assault kit backlogs. Congressman Cohen also secured $5 million in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget to cut through these backlogs, which at its peak reached 12,000 untested kits in Memphis alone with an estimated 400,000 sitting in evidence rooms nationwide. The $5 million secured in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget by the Congressman’s amendment was made available through the following grant programs:

National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) FY 2015 Competitive Grant:

This program provides grants to address the growing backlog of sexual assault kits (SAK) at law enforcement agencies. State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutor’s offices, and certain governmental non-law enforcement agencies are eligible to apply for these grants. Details about for this grant program are available here.

SAKI: National Training and Technical Assistance FY 2015 Competitive Grant:

This program provides grants to support national training and technical assistance for jurisdictions engaged in comprehensive sexual assault response reform related to the issue of untested sexual assault kits. For-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), faith-based and community organizations, institutions of higher education, and consortiums with demonstrated experience providing national and local-level training and technical assistance are eligible to apply for these grants. For-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fees for services. Details about this grant program are available here.