Virginia Receives $1.4 Million Grant to Test Backlog of Rape Kits

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s office announced Friday that the Commonwealth has received a $1.4 million grant to analyze more than 2,000 untested Physical Evidence Recovery Kits, more commonly known as rape kits.

Each of these kits is associated with a sexual assault in Virginia, and checking these kits marks a major step in preventing future sexual assaults, Herring explained.

“We know that sexual violence is a serial crime and perpetrators are often repeat offenders,” the Attorney General said in Friday’s grant announcement. “By analyzing these kits we can build a stronger database, connect the dots on these terrible crimes, and put dangerous predators away. Clearing out this backlog will also help show survivors that the Commonwealth is committed to helping them seek justice as part of their healing process.

Rape kits contain evidence collected from victims during an extensive examination conducted at a hospital or crisis center following a sexual assault incident. The DNA evidence these kits can provide can not only help authorities identify suspects, but can also exonerate the innocent.

The $1.4 million grant comes as part of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s $38 million initiative to test 56,000 kits in more than 20 states, including Virginia.

To see which other states will receive grant money, click here.