RAPE KIT POLICIES UNDER REVIEW

Massed evidence goes untested by law enforcement

Local and state officials across the country are reviewing policies and procedures for processing rape kits after a USA TODAY Media Network investigation last week.

Reports by USA TODAY and more than 80 Gannett and TEGNA news organizations identified at least 70,000 untested sexualassault kits across more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies.

Police in Leon County, Fla., and West Lafayette, Ind., were among several police agencies pledging reviews or testing of rape kits in storage and policies for testing kits going forward. In Wisconsin, South Dakota and South Carolina, state legislators and other officials pledged reviews of testing.

Although testing can yield DNA evidence that helps identify suspects, bolster prosecutions or exonerate the wrongly accused, many agencies have not tested large numbers of kits booked into evidence.

After inquiries by the Tallahassee ( Fla.) Democrat, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office will review each of the 66 untested kits in its custody and institute practices to ensure they do not accumulate without reasonable explanation. “We have to change our way of thinking,” Leon County Sheriff Mike Wood said.

Nationally, records obtained by the USA TODAY Media Network show some agencies send as few as two in 10 sexual- assault kits to crime labs for testing, while others send every kit.

Responding to a report in the Green Bay ( Wis.) Press- Gazette disclosing about 350 untested rape kits in Green Bay, state Rep. David Steffen said the issue “requires immediate investigation.”

“It is a priority for me to ensure that victims of rape are protected,” Steffen said, noting plans to meet with state officials to determine whether legislative involvement is warranted.

In the Lafayette, Ind., area, police told the Journal & Courier they would review their policies.

“We’re actually having a conversation with the prosecutor now: ‘ Do we go ahead and send in all these kits?’ ” Tippecanoe County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Steve Hartman said.

West Lafayette Police Department Lt. Troy Harris told the paper, “We are now going to submit all of our sexual- assault kits to a lab, if they will take them.”