Rape case time limits might end
CARSON CITY — A bipartisan bill that would remove the statute of limitations on reporting and prosecuting sex crimes where DNA evidence has been collected is running into a partial snag because of the lack of a statewide standard on how long unprocessed rape kits must be retained.
Assembly Bill 142 would make Nevada the 27th state to eliminate the time limit for cases where a victim has undergone a forensic exam and DNA evidence has been collected. The state’s time limit for reporting cases that lack such evidence would remain at the current 20 years.
In Nevada, evidence kits — commonly called rape kits — are preserved in cases where sexual assault charges have been filed. The state has been working through a backlog of thousands of untested kits dating back more than three decades, announcing last week that 90 percent of that backlog had been eliminated.
But not all kits are automatically saved. In Clark County, for example, kits are disposed of after 30 days if they are not made part of a criminal case — for example, if a victim delays in filing charges.
Another pending bill, Assembly Bill 176, known as the “Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights,” would set a minimum four-year retention policy for all kits.
The main sponsors of the bill to end time limits, Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, R-reno, and Sen. Pat. Spearman, D-north Las Vegas, said they were open
He recommended that all equestrian events in Southern Nevada this week be postponed due to the outbreak, a department spokeswoman said.
In February, Goicoechea urged horse owners to travel with caution after two cases of an infection known as “strangles” or equine distemper were discovered. Another facility in Clark County was quarantined for 21 days after those cases
were reported.
Goicoechea said in the release that practicing “biosecurity” is the best way to minimize the risk of spreading disease. Biosecurity means avoiding places or activities that might lead to an infectious disease transferring between animals. The Agriculture Department recommends not sharing equipment between horses and avoiding common areas like hitching rails and wash racks.
Contact Max Michor at mmichor@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0365. Follow @Maxmichor on Twitter.