Every survivor of sexual assault deserves justice, dignity, and support throughout the criminal justice process. Unfortunately, many survivors in Colorado experience secondary victimization from the systemic process. Delays, lack of communication, and insensitive treatment often retraumatize those who seek help from the system meant to protect them.

In 2025, there were 1,308 reports of rape reported to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation which covers the larger Denver area (CBI 2026) and 3,474 total cases in the state of Colorado, ranking it 5th in the U.S. for rape crime rates (Deam, 2026). These numbers reflect not only the prevalence of sexual violence within the state, but also the immense pressure placed on criminal justice and forensic systems responsible for investigating these crimes. For years, Colorado faced a severe backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits. Survivors often waited years for their rape kits to be processed, leaving cases stalled and justice delayed.

The CBI has made drastic progress in addressing the state’s backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits within the last two years. According to the CBI, the backlog was reduced by approximately 50%, dropping from 1,462 untested kits in February 2025 to 634 in February 2026 (CBI, 2026). As a result, the average processing time for a case also decreased from over 500 days to around 194 days (CBI, 2026).

This progress is largely due to Senate Bill (SB) 25-170 and SB25-304, which provided funding so that sexual assault cases could be sent to third-party labs to decrease the processing time of cases that had been backlogged. This initiative eventually allowed for an additional 15 DNA-analysts to be trained to eliminate the 600+ backlogged cases by the end of 2027 and established a goal of processing all sexual assault kits within 60 days (Woods, 2025).

While rapid testing is essential for successful investigations, it only provides relief that was caused from a systemic backlog of samples and does not ensure better outcomes for the victim. Many survivors of sexual assault are under-supported and forced to face secondary victimization, which is when survivors experience dismissive treatment, lack of communication, delays, or other systemic failures while reporting crimes or navigating the legal process that cause them to be retraumatized and often abolished trust within the justice system.

Lack of Trauma-Informed Support

Survivors often experience trauma-responses such as memory fragmentation, emotional distress, and heightened anxiety which adds to the difficulty of reporting efficeintly. Without proper training, law enforcement officers and court personnel may misinterpret these responses, which can lead to survivors being dismissed or disbelieved and these interactions with survivors often unintentionally contribute to re-traumatization.

All law enforcement officers, prosecutors, forensic personnel, and court staff who interact with sexual assault survivors should be required to complete annual trauma-informed training. This training would help professionals recognize trauma responses and ensure survivors are treated with empathy and respect.

Poor Communication and Transparency

Another persistent issue is the lack of communication between investigators and survivors as they receive little or no information about the status of their evidence, progress of investigations, or court proceedings. This lack of transparency creates uncertainty and can intensify feelings of isolation or distrust toward the justice system.

Historical System Failures and Resource Limitations

The sexual assault evidence backlog itself reflects years of limited resources and insufficient funding within forensic laboratories. Although progress has been made in reducing the backlog, survivors deserve transparency about case delays and clearer communication regarding investigative timelines.

Policy Recommendations

To improve survivor experiences and strengthen accountability within the criminal justice system, several policy reforms should be considered.

Strengthening Victim Advocacy Programs

Survivors should be guaranteed access to independent victim advocates who can guide them through medical examinations, forensic evidence collection, investigations, and court proceedings. Advocates can provide emotional support while helping survivors understand their legal rights and available resources.

Accountability and Oversight

Establishing independent oversight mechanisms, such as review boards or confidential reporting hotlines, would allow survivors to report misconduct, negligence, or investigative delays within the justice system. Increased oversight can help ensure accountability and improve public trust.

Increased Community Support Funding

Additional funding should be directed toward community organizations that provide counseling services, legal support, and trauma recovery programs for survivors of sexual violence. These organizations often play a critical role in helping survivors heal and navigate complex legal processes.

Conclusion The statistics discussed in this paper represent real individuals seeking justice and healing but are being failed by the system. Every delay, unanswered question, or dismissive interaction risks deepening survivors’ trauma and furthers the underreporting of this crime. A truly effective system must also be transparent, compassionate, and survivor-centered, because Justice should mean support and dignity for survivors.

References

Colorado Bureau of Investigation. (2026, March). Eliminating the backlog. https://cbi.colorado.gov/forensics/dna-database/eliminating-the-backlog

Deam, J. (2026, March 2). State audit: Rape kit backlog reduced but more work needed to hit goal. Colorado Politics. https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/02/25/state-audit-rape-kit-backlog-reduced-but-more-work-needed-to-hit-goal/

Denver Crimes. (n.d.). Denver’s year over year crime trends map. https://denvercrimes.com/map/trends/year-over-year/#sexual-assault

Woods, L. B. (2025, June 3). Gov. Polis signs law to reduce Colorado’s rape kit backlog. KUNC. https://www.kunc.org/news/2025-06-03/gov-polis-signs-law-to-reduce-colorados-rape-kit-backlog

Office of Governor Jared Polis

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Denver, CO 80203.