Gov. Brown Signs Legislation Ending Rape Kit Backlog
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – Many women in California who have been traumatized by sexual assault may feel a sense of relief, knowing that law enforcement agencies will act much sooner to test rape kits after legislation was signed Tuesday by Gov. Brown.
The new law is designed to eliminate the current back log of untested rape kits in the state.
Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Teresa Drenick told KCBS that the law gives law enforcement 20 days to submit rape kits to crime labs.
"Most importantly is too upload that profile into a national DNA database, known as CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System) so that that DNA can be matched with other profiles already available," she said.
Drenick said that rape survivors are probably feeling a sense of relief,
"He or she will know now know that yes, the evidence being collected from my body which is now the crime scene, will be tested and tested in an expeditious manner," she said.
In 2011 an audit was done on all law enforcement property rooms in Alameda County and found more than 1,900 untested rape kits.