STATEHOUSE (March 3, 2025) – The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously advanced legislation co-authored by State Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R-Wabash) to address the backlog of untested rape kits in Indiana.
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Indiana State Police, 600 untested rape kits are waiting to be processed due to limited resources and funding for technicians and equipment. To address this backlog, House Bill 1413 would establish a grant fund for ISP to acquire additional resources to process these kits.
"Due to limited resources, a backlog of untested rape kits has accumulated within crime labs, delaying justice for survivors in Indiana," Sweet said. "It's crucial for a dedicated fund to be established to ensure this is addressed and that violent criminals are held accountable."
The funds would be used for purchasing equipment, processing the kits, paying costs associated with streamlining the processing time and providing competitive wages for technicians. The House-passed budget includes $2.5M to purchase new rape testing equipment.
In addition to the fund, ISP would provide an annual report outlining the remaining untested or pending kits from the backlog. All rape kits in the possession of law enforcement and the testing labs as of July 1, 2025, would also need to be processed before the end of next year.
House Bill 1413 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. To learn more about the bill and follow session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R-Wabash) represents House District 50,
which includes all of Huntington County, and portions of Miami, Wabash and Wells counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
