At least 10,000 rape kits are untested in Florida
Florida officials say at least 10,000 rape kits are untested in the state, and the number may climb as authorities continue their survey of the problem.
The rape kits are in police evidence rooms throughout the state, but sending them to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for testing won’t solve the problem, the Miami Herald reports. According to FDLE officials, the state crime lab could not quickly process them all without millions of dollars to pay for extra workers or outsourcing.
FDLE assistant commissioner Jennifer Pritt told Florida lawmakers there are many reasons for the untested kits. A victim may not have wanted to prosecute, or a suspect may have already pleaded guilty. Many untested kits are for evidence collected before DNA analysis, she said.
Hat tip to the Marshall Project.
