National Rape Kit Backlog Gets a $35 Million Boost

The massive national backlog of rape kits is being targeted by Manhattan’s district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr. According to Vance, there is a backlog of “hundreds of thousands of rape kits” across the country in police warehouses. His office, which has long been a leader in processing untested kits, has pledged $35 million in national funding toward eliminating that backlog.
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National Rape Kit Backlog Gets a $35 Million Boost
Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. speaks about the $35 million he is pledging in funding to eliminate the backlog of untested rape kits in New York City, on Nov. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
12/9/2014
Updated:
12/9/2014

Actress Mariska Hargitay, star of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," speaks on the thousands of rape kits nationwide that are still awaiting DNA testing in New York on Nov. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Actress Mariska Hargitay, star of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," speaks on the thousands of rape kits nationwide that are still awaiting DNA testing in New York on Nov. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)



In part thanks to that advocacy, state legislation was recently passed in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia to require rape kit testing. There is pending legislation in 22 other states, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). Texas, Colorado, and Illinois already had laws in place.

49 Indictments

New York City has had some success in dealing with rape kit backlogs in the past. In the 1990s, the city had a backlog of about 17,000 kits. The backlog was cleared and evidence found led to 49 indictments based on DNA. Those convicted got a combined total of 900 years in jail.

On Tuesday Vance said that he hopes to lead by example with the latest effort.

“I hope, certainly, that Congress will say, ‘Well if this little DA’s office in Manhattan can step in and take ownership of this, certainly the federal government can.’”