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Dallas To Process Thousands Of Backlogged Rape Kits

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - In anticipation of hundreds of new sexual assault cold cases, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office is doubling its sexual assault unit.

More than 4,000 untested rape kits will finally be processed, thanks to grant money received by the Dallas Police Department.

Not all of the kits will lead to a case being filed with the DA's office, but many could.  In the next 18 months, the DA's office says it expects to have 400 new sexual assault cold cases, which is twice as many cases as the sexual unit worked last year.

Newly elected Dallas DA Susan Hawk is using grant money to double resources in the unit by adding a new attorney along with an investigator to work soley on sexual assault cases.

"We have victims that have been waiting a long time for justice to be served. As a result of this evidence justice will happen more swiftly than it has been occurring than for the victims has been waiting years for those results," said Hawk.

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