COH plan to deal with blacklog of Untested Sexual assault kits

[trymahjong]

Plan to Eliminate Backlog of Untested Sexual Assault Kits

On Wednesday, February 13, 2013, Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston Police Department (HPD) announced details of a plan that will eliminate the backlog of untested sexual assault kits (SAK). Under the plan, which will be formally considered by Houston City Council on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the untested kits will be sent to two outside labs for testing. It is anticipated the work will be completed in 12-14 months and cost the city $4.4 million, which will be covered with grant funding already awarded to HPD and dollars set aside for this purpose by City Council in the city's current budget.

The contract will include the following:

• Testing of 6,663 stored SAKs
  • Testing of 1,450 active SAKs
    • Testing of 1,000 SAKs HPD anticipates receiving in the next year
      • Testing of 1,020 other non-SAK cases

The proposed contract is with Bode Technology Group and Sorenson Forensics, both of whom are recognized leaders in the field and both have worked on other large backlog projects in various places, including New York , Los Angeles and Los Angeles County . Approval by City Council would clear the way for transfer of all SAKs and other DNA cases to the two firms for the start of testing.

For more information contact publicaffairs@houstonpolice.org