MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin lawmakers are once again trying to pass proposals that would codify the processing of sexual assault kits into law, preventing another backlog of kits and helping ensure sexual assault victims have a clearer path forward in the criminal justice system. Two bills that would help prevent a backlog in the processing of sexual assault kits as well as providing an anonymous way for victims to track them cleared the state Senate on Tuesday.
The bill designed to prevent a kit backlog was much like another one that passed two years ago before getting hung up after Assembly lawmakers added unrelated measures to an otherwise-bipartisan proposal. Republican co-author Sen. Bob Cowles is hopeful that doesn’t happen again, but admits he’s somewhat worried.
“It passed here unanimously, the identical bill that passed two years ago. So let’s get it done this time,” he said. “With this bill–if it’s followed properly–there’ll be steps along the way, timeframes that need to be met, and creates certainty in the system.”
Sexual assault victim advocates echo his concerns.
“It is the right time now, and it’s been the right time for years,” said Dana Pellebon, co-executive director of the Rape Crisis Center in Madison. “It allows for victims and survivors to determine how that crime lab is interacted with, with law enforcement. You can have a sexual assault kit done without reporting to police, which is important to know. And then you can have that then stored for ten years.”
In 2019, attorney general Josh Kaul announced a years-long backlog in kits had finally been cleared, a process that had started in 2016.
“We need to improve the situation with rape kits,” Sen. Cowles said. “The current process basically caused erratic situations, like kits getting lost or not being processed properly.”
In a pandemic where reporting of sexual assault in some cases has gone silent as victims are trapped in their homes or not in schools where reporting from watchful educators and administrators is more frequent, advocates say it’s more important than ever to get this resolved. More than that–advocates say there needs to be space for victims to get help and come forward.
“Sexual violence includes harassment, it includes stalking, it includes unwanted touching, unwanted verbal behaviors. Just because you may not have experienced rape does not mean that you do not deserve the help,” Pellebon said. “It’s never too late to get help, and it’s never too late to reach out.”
Rape Crisis Center 24/7 Helplines:
English helpline: 608-251-7273
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