Bill introduced to fund rape kit testing to help with Indiana’s backlog
INDIANA (WPTA) - The state of Indiana is facing a backlog of untested rape kits, potentially leaving hundreds of sexual assault survivors waiting for justice.
Now, a state lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at ending that backlog.
State Representative Becky Cash (R-District 25) is pushing for more funding to be used to end the backlog.
She says 600-800 rape kits are waiting to be tested at the state crime lab.
Rep. Cash says the reason those numbers are so high is due to a lack of equipment and staffing.
She says the bill gives state police $2.5 million to pay for staffing and acquire the equipment needed to conduct the tests.
The goal, she says, is to help prosecutors get justice for sexual assault survivors and give victims hope.
Rep. Cash says the House, the committee that the bill went through, and the Senate are 100% behind victims of assault and are working to make this happen.
A similar effort to get this funding did not pass last year. Rep. Cash says she’s optimistic this will get done this legislative session.
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