The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency unveiled the first phase of its statewide Track‑Kit program on October 17, 2026. The pilot will run in three counties throughout the month, with full statewide rollout slated for the end of the year.
How the system works
Every newly collected sexual‑assault evidence kit will receive a unique bar code that links to a secure, cloud‑based file. As the kit moves through the chain of custody—being stored, examined, or transferred—the system automatically updates the online portal. Law‑enforcement agencies, medical providers and survivors can log in 24/7 to see the current location and testing status of each kit.
Why the change matters
Advocates have long warned that delays and opaque handling of kits leave victims in the dark and often prevent prosecutors from securing admissible evidence. Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) Director of Victim Response Megan Schroeder said many survivors feel “forgotten” and doubt that anyone believes them.
Schroeder noted that some jurisdictions still have backlogs dating back to the 1980s. The Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2024, has already helped reduce those backlogs in places like Allegheny County by providing new funding and training for expanded testing.
Voices from the front lines
“A big piece of this is accountability,” Schroeder said. “Before this system, victims often had no idea when their kit had been tested, or which agency was responsible for its storage.”
PAAR Managing Director Kelsey Leigh added, “Even if testing the kit won’t change the outcome, it does acknowledge a respect for the evidence for the survivor. They know that their kit isn’t just sitting on a shelf somewhere.”
Leigh explained that the program will also include training for law‑enforcement officers, medical staff and rape‑crisis center workers on how to access and use the new portal. Allegheny County is set to join the system in November, with the remainder of the state expected online before the year ends.
What survivors can expect
The Track‑Kit system aims to give survivors a “sense of justice and closure,” according to Leigh. All Pennsylvania residents can access free services from rape‑crisis centers, which help navigate the legal process and the healing journey. A full registry of these centers is available at pcar.org/help‑pa/locations.
By providing transparent, real‑time updates, the state hopes to restore confidence in the criminal‑justice process and ensure that every piece of evidence is handled with the dignity and respect survivors deserve.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
