SDPD clears rape kit backlog, now in full compliance with state law

Contents of a typical rape kit Photo courtesy of Joyful Heart Foundation For the first time in years the San Diego Police Department has no backlog of untested sexual-assault evidence kits marking a key milestone for the agency SDPD personnel informed Wednesday The accomplishment puts the department in compliance with California Senate Bill from which required law enforcement agencies across the state to conduct more timely DNA analyses of sex-assault forensic evidence In August of that year the SDPD had an estimated untested rape kits Capt Brent Williams announced In the agency turned to a contract laboratory Bode Cellmark Forensics to help meet the mandate The work according to SDPD executives was divided into three phases A total of SB -mandated kits from - They were all tested by December Another so-called historical kits dating from prior to They were tested by October An additional kits from - They were tested by November of last year While Bode focused on the backlog the SDPD laid the groundwork to bring all future testing in-house according to Williams Between and the department invested in staffing lab renovations and new equipment while streamlining procedures to ensure that incoming kits could be processed efficiently and thoroughly he commented Due to those improvements the SDPD Crime Lab now tests sex-assault forensic evidence significantly faster than before averaging a -day turnaround well ahead of the -day requirement set by SB Williams explained These kits play a critical role in identifying sexual-assault offenders supporting prosecutions and delivering justice to survivors the captain noted SDPD officers presented the update to the city Inhabitants Safety Committee on Wednesday