We began 2019 asking you, our joyful community, to help us advocate to end the backlog of untested rape kits around the United States. We developed six pillars of rape kit reform as part of our national campaign to enact comprehensive rape kit reform laws in every state. While we hope you share information about our campaign with others, we know some of the terminology we use can be challenging.

We’ve put together a short quiz for you to test your knowledge on our six pillars. If you choose a wrong answer on one of the multiple-choice questions, we encourage you to keep guessing! You can continue to select an option for each question until you get the right one. (If you want to study our campaign before taking the quiz, visit our End the Backlog website.)

The goal of Joyful Heart’s nationwide campaign to end the rape kit backlog is to enact comprehensive rape kit reform legislation in all 50 states. When we say “enact legislation,” what does this mean?

A legislator introduces a bill, the majority of legislators vote “yes,” and the governor signs it into law.

The governor officially declares a new law without any action from the legislature.

The legislature introduces a new bill, and the governor makes a statement about what she thinks about the bill.

Correct! By “enacting legislation,” we mean a majority of legislators vote “yes” on a bill AND the governor signs it into law.

No, this isn’t it. Our campaign calls for other action. Don’t worry, though, you can give it another try.

What is the purpose of the six pillars?

It is a checklist for law enforcement on how to handle rape kits.

It is an outline for a training program lawmakers can use for new staff.

It is a checklist providing state legislators guidance on drafting rape kit reform legislation.

That’s right! We work with legislators to enact the six pillars to ensure all kits are counted, tested, and tracked.

Sorry, that’s not the answer. But you can try again!

What was the first state to enact all six pillars of rape kit reform?

Massachusetts

Texas

Oregon

You got it! In 2017, Texas became the first state to enact all six pillars. In 2018, Hawai’i and New York become the second and third states to enact all six pillars. Have you been studying our interactive map on the status of rape kit laws?

Try again. (No judgment if you cheat to find the answer on our interactive map. We won’t tell!)

One pillar says hospitals should notify law enforcement of all new rape kits (those collected after the law takes effect), law enforcement should submit them to a crime lab, and crime labs must test the kits. All of these steps must occur within certain time frames. What are these deadlines?

Hospitals should notify law enforcement within 24 hours of collection. Law enforcement should pick up kits within 72 hours. And labs should test kits within 30 days.

Hospitals should notify law enforcement within 48 hours of collection. Law enforcement should pick up kits within four days. And labs should test kits within 60 days.

Hospitals should notify law enforcement within 24 hours of collection. Law enforcement should pick up kits within 48 hours. And labs should test kits within 10 days.

Yes! When survivors get a rape kit done, they expect the evidence to be handled carefully and tested at a reasonable time. By establishing time frames for the rape kit handling process—following the kits from the hospital all the way to the crime lab—it keeps a promise to survivors that there won’t be a future backlog.

Ugh, this is a tricky one. The good news is you can try again.

According to Joyful Heart, victims should have the right to what?

To speak to the media.

To know the location and status of their kit.

To create laws.

Good answer! States should grant victims the rights to know about the status and location of their rape kit and be notified before destruction of their kit.

No, sorry. Although we think survivors should have rights to a lot of things, this isn’t the answer we are looking for. Why not give it another guess?

What do we say should happen to existing backlogged kits?

Law enforcement should count backlogged kits and leave them in storage.

Existing backlogged rape kits should be left untested, and crime labs should only test new kits.

Law enforcement should submit backlogged kits to a crime lab and the crime lab should test backlogged kits.

That’s correct. To end the backlog, we recommend law enforcement submit all previously untested kits connected to a reported crime to the lab and require the lab to test these kits. You may ask yourself, why test all kits? Check out our answer.

Oops! You got this one wrong. You have two more chances to get it right.

How should states handle the financial cost of testing rape kits?

Set aside funds in state budgets.

Test kits only if federal grants are available in state budgets.

Leave those costs to local jurisdictions.

That’s right! Some state officials cite a lack of resources as to why testing backlogged and new kits doesn’t happen. But, research shows, testing rape kits could help identify serial offenders, avert future crimes, and lower the amount the state spends on public safety.

Oh no! You didn’t pick the right answer this time. Don’t give up, though. Keep trying.

We recommend states create a statewide tracking system for rape kits. Wayne County, MI Prosecutor Kym Worthy has said survivors should be able to check the status and location of their kits like a person can what?

Find out what’s on TV each day.

Track a package after ordering something on Amazon.com.

See what people are posting on social media.

That’s the right answer. Kym Worthy said if someone can track an Amazon package, a victim should be able to track their rape kit through the criminal justice system. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office uncovered 11,341 untested rape kits in Detroit in 2009. Since then, Detroit has tested about 10,000 kits, identifying more than 820 serial rapists as of January 2018.

Unfortunately, that’s not the answer we are looking for. Have you seen the HBO documentary our Founder and President Mariska Hargitay produced called I AM EVIDENCE? We captured Kym Worthy’s answer to this question on the film’s website.

One of our pillars urges states to count untested rape kits every year. Why?

Regularly counting untested rape kits is required by the federal government.

Statewide inventories are the latest legislative trend.

A recurring count helps stakeholders understand the scope of untested rape kits and monitor progress.

You are correct! By conducting an annual inventory of untested rape kits, states can strengthen accountability, monitor progress toward eliminating the backlog, and send a message to survivors that they matter.

Sorry, that’s not the answer. We’re going to count on you to try again and get it right.

We hope you bolstered your knowledge about the rape kit backlog problem and the ways Joyful Heart is trying to end the backlog in your state. For more information about our national legislative campaign, the status of the backlog in your state, and other ways you can help, visit our End the Backlog website.