Louisiana law enforcement agencies had not submitted 337 reported sexual assault kits to a crime lab as of February 2026, according to a November 5 report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
The kits represented 17.9% of the 1,879 reported kits collected statewide from July 2024 through December 2025. The finding describes their status at the audit’s February cutoff, not how many remain unsubmitted today.
Reported kits come from survivors who ask law enforcement to investigate. They are distinct from unreported kits, which are retained for survivors who do not request an investigation and can choose to report later.
The audit found that the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab implemented the statewide tracking system in compliance with state law. It also identified gaps in participation, data accuracy and enforcement of processing deadlines that can leave survivors without complete information about their evidence.
The system began operating in July 2024. Louisiana law requires police to pick up kits within 72 hours after a medical provider’s notification and to submit reported kits to a lab within 30 days of pickup.
Auditors found that at least 560 of the 2,138 total kits collected during the review period missed a pickup or submission deadline. The report separately identified location, status or date problems involving 606 kits. Some records could not be assessed for timeliness because dates were missing or inconsistent.
Sending a kit to a lab does not necessarily mean it will be tested. Auditors said state law does not explicitly require testing of every submitted kit, and laboratories described different practices. They recommended that lawmakers clarify testing requirements and any exceptions while considering laboratory workloads.
Several labs told auditors that sexual assault evidence testing requires substantial resources. The report noted that testing can also produce DNA profiles useful in other investigations or help exclude people as suspects.
The audit called for clearer status information, better data controls and more automatic reminders. It also found no designated authority to enforce compliance by all participating entities and no statutory penalties for noncompliance with tracking requirements.
In a November 2 response included with the report, State Police Crime Lab Director Capt. Chad Guidry agreed with all 13 recommendations. The lab said it had improved information displayed to survivors and was adding status options, reminders and controls for incomplete or inconsistent records. It also committed to publishing its annual tracking report and ensuring required recipients receive it.
The lab cautioned that greater transparency must be balanced with survivor safety and privacy. Its response said the portal supplements direct communication with investigators.
Auditors also reviewed plans for a separate system to track unresolved leads from the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS. A DNA database match is an investigative lead requiring further confirmation, not proof of guilt.
The report recommends changes to law and agency practices. It does not establish that every recommended change has been completed.