Maryland Introduces Rape Kit Tracking System for Assault Survivors

New initiative allows victims to monitor evidence kits online, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Survivors receive a barcode to track their rape kits through the criminal justice process.
The system, operational since May, has already been accessed 90 times by 14 survivors.
Maryland joins 40 other states with similar tracking systems, aiming to prevent evidence backlogs.
The state will apply barcodes to approximately 5,000 untested kits in its backlog.
Officials emphasize the system's role in building trust and ensuring timely evidence processing.