Pressuring Governors To Deal With 400,000 Untested Rape Kits

By Morning Shift
Cara Smith, the chief of policy and communications for the Cook County, Ill. Sheriff’s department, holds a photo of a rape kit, in Robbins, Ill. The rape kit is one of nearly 200 in Robbins that Sheriff’s investigators found that were never tested or, if they were, were never investigated. The Illinois Legislature passed a bill last April 2015, that would change the timeframe during which rape charges can be brought, moving it from when the crime is committed to when the evidence is tested.
Cara Smith, the chief of policy and communications for the Cook County, Ill. Sheriff's department, holds a photo of a rape kit, in Robbins, Ill. The rape kit is one of nearly 200 in Robbins that Sheriff's investigators found that were never tested or, if they were, were never investigated. The Illinois Legislature passed a bill last April 2015, that would change the timeframe during which rape charges can be brought, moving it from when the crime is committed to when the evidence is tested. Martha Irvine / AP Photo
Cara Smith, the chief of policy and communications for the Cook County, Ill. Sheriff’s department, holds a photo of a rape kit, in Robbins, Ill. The rape kit is one of nearly 200 in Robbins that Sheriff’s investigators found that were never tested or, if they were, were never investigated. The Illinois Legislature passed a bill last April 2015, that would change the timeframe during which rape charges can be brought, moving it from when the crime is committed to when the evidence is tested.
Cara Smith, the chief of policy and communications for the Cook County, Ill. Sheriff's department, holds a photo of a rape kit, in Robbins, Ill. The rape kit is one of nearly 200 in Robbins that Sheriff's investigators found that were never tested or, if they were, were never investigated. The Illinois Legislature passed a bill last April 2015, that would change the timeframe during which rape charges can be brought, moving it from when the crime is committed to when the evidence is tested. Martha Irvine / AP Photo

Pressuring Governors To Deal With 400,000 Untested Rape Kits

By Morning Shift
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Human Rights Watch estimates there are 400,000 untested rape kits in the country. Untested kits are a long-time issue in many states, but one local organization has said “enough is enough” and issued a call to action. 

Test 400K sent a rape kit to every governor in the country, and its website allows users to see when their elected official receives the kit. (Governor Bruce Rauner’s was delivered yesterday.) Governors have two weeks to endorse the Test 400K National Call to Action, which states that stopping sexual assault is a top priority. 

Test 400K co-founder Julie Smolyansky tells us more about the call to action, and explains why this campaign is so important to her. We also talk with local rape survivor Michelle Kuiper.