The Salisbury Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) recently partnered with the Honors Program of Livingstone College to host “Elimination of Sexual Assault Kit Backlog” facilitated by Outreach Specialist Sarah Welsch of the North Carolina Department of Justice.

The event was held on the Livingstone College campus in Andrew Carnegie Library where students and community members were welcomed to engage in dialogue centered on the state’s progress of untested rape kits. As of April, the state’s Attorney General Josh Stein reportedly cleared the backlog.

“From victim-blaming attitudes and actions, to budget cuts and reduced crime-lab staff, kits accumulated at law enforcement agencies, whereas survivors waited years before receiving their test results and some not at all,” said a release from the AAUW’s local chapter. “In fact, a report by the Congressional Research Service found estimates of the national backlog ranging from 90,000 to 400,000. North Carolina was the largest state with an accumulation of over 16,000 untested kits.

As the Justice Department initiated grant programs to address the issue, including the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction in 2004 and the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative in 2015, the programs offered funding to states in efforts to help them clear their backlogs. In 2017, Stein prioritized ending backlogs, declaring justice for survivors.

“The numbers for North Carolina are incredibly unbelievable, but not as unbelievable of the process victims experience,” freshman Breyana McClean said. “Although North Carolina eliminated their backlog, the backlog and crime itself is a very harsh reality for women and girls.”

State legislators worked to pass the Survivor Act. This this law established a statewide clear process to test older kits, and set standards to ensure law enforcement sends new kits for testing in a timely manner. Moreover, Stein and the State Crime Lab implemented a tracking system to ensure survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors and other stakeholders could monitor kits’ progress after collection.

Welsch shared the tracking system is now in use and will help prevent another backlog.

“Bipartisan support, cross sector cooperation, and policy, process, teamwork and persistence has been the keys to success in eliminating these backlog,” Welsch said. “You can assist by sharing this information with others, volunteering at rape crisis centers, being an active bystander, and by listening to survivors’ voices.”

Untested rape kits can have significant consequences for both the criminal justice system and sexual assault survivors. As rape kit testing serves as evidence, and connects perpetrators to other assaults, it can as well be a preventive method to reduce further victimization. Also noteworthy, failure to submit rape kits for lab testing decreases community trust and is a barrier between law enforcement and communities.

“As a native of Georgia, it’s good to learn North Carolina achieved the goals of eliminating this backlog and that Rowan County had success with 155 out of 186 kits completed,” freshman Harmony Clark said. “It shows law enforcement in the area is committed to making improvements in protecting women, and makes me feel a little better as a college student in Rowan county.”

To learn more about the elimination of backlog sexual assault kits, go to www.ncdoj.gov/testthekits.