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A Solution for LAPD's Rape-Kit Backlog Announced

By  Zach Behrens
Published Oct 29, 2008 12:00 AM
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Photo by dimsumdarren via Flickr

Following the shocking news, media pressure and community outrage of the 7,000 untested rape-kits sitting on LAPD shelves, the LAPD along with Mayor Villaraigosa and City Attorney hopeful Jack Weiss announced a plan to catch up on the DNA testing of rape-kits. Basically, political will and funding will be directed towards the crime lab.

"The plan calls for the addition of ten criminalists every six months until the LAPD Crime Lab is fully staffed, and an increase in funding for outsourcing," a Mayor's Office press release explains. "These two actions will allow LAPD to clear the backlog of approximately 7,000 untested rape kits in 30 months, and to test DNA evidence from new crimes."

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"In Los Angeles, 80 out of every 100 rapists, are never brought to justice," That ends today," said Cheif Bratton in September. Well, let's hope so, sir.