Pennsylvania Signed Act to Track Rape Kits
Governor Josh Shapiro has authorized a statewide tracking system to monitor sexual assault evidence kits.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act 122 of 2024 to establish a statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system. The initiative aims to enhance transparency and efficiency by allowing survivors to monitor their evidence kits throughout the criminal justice process.
Why it matters
The system seeks to address significant delays in processing rape cases and improve communication for victims. By providing an automated tracking mechanism, officials hope to increase the number of cases that successfully move through the investigation phase.
Pennsylvania recorded roughly 3,800 rape cases annually from 2023 to 2025 with less than half being cleared. The new tracking system is currently being tested in Erie, Lancaster, and York Counties across 12 hospitals and 64 law enforcement agencies.
The players
Josh Shapiro
He serves as the Governor of Pennsylvania and signed the legislation to enact the statewide tracking system.
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
This state agency is responsible for designing, testing, and implementing the new sexual assault evidence tracking system.
The details
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is leading the implementation of the Track-Kit system. This platform allows survivors to follow the progress of their evidence from collection to analysis, ensuring accountability across participating law enforcement and medical institutions.
Timeline
Between 2023 and 2025, annual rape cases and clearance rates were tracked.
In January 2025, the PCCD secured a $2.5 million federal award for system development.
By mid-2026, pilot testing of the tracking system began in three counties.
In late September 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act 122 of 2024 into law.
In December 2026, the state is scheduled to launch the tracking system statewide.
Legal Context
The implementation of this tracking system follows Act 122 of 2024, representing a broader legislative move to reform how sexual assault evidence is handled within the Pennsylvania criminal justice system. Similar automated tracking laws have been adopted in various states to address historical bottlenecks in evidence processing.
Victims of sexual assault in Pennsylvania will gain the ability to monitor the status of their evidence kits, providing greater transparency during investigations. Additionally, the $12 million funding increase for rape crisis centers aims to improve support services available to the public.
The takeaway
The implementation of the Track-Kit system marks a significant step toward modernizing evidence management in Pennsylvania. Survivors are encouraged to utilize these new digital tools to stay informed about their case status throughout the legal process.
What happens next
The statewide sexual assault kit tracking system is scheduled to launch in December 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing legislative efforts regarding Sex Crimes in the state.
Live Poll
Do you believe state-led digital tracking systems improve justice for sexual assault survivors?
