Article

The Evidence Left Behind: Unfinished Justice Behind Rape Kits

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Abstract

This piece reviews the unrealized promise of forensic reforms in sexual assault allegations. It pays particular attention to the development of the rape kit and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. These innovations originated from the feminist movement in the 1970s. They aimed to reframe rape as a prosecutable crime based on scientific evidence and survivor-centered care, instead of a morally judged accusation. This discussion draws from Pagan Kennedy's The Secret History of the Rape Kit and the HBO documentary I Am Evidence. Both highlight concerns about the ongoing failure to test rape kits and to adequately fund SANE programs as being connected to systemic misogyny and bureaucratic neglect. Recent legislative initiatives have improved accountability and reduced evidence backlogs. This piece concludes that, without enforcing testing mandates, equitable access to medical care, and institutional accountability, the feminist goal of equal justice in sexual assault cases remains unmet.

How to Cite:

Higgins-Figueroa, H., (2026) “The Evidence Left Behind: Unfinished Justice Behind Rape Kits”, UMass Undergraduate Law Review 3(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/uulrj.3879