Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen recommended state law and policy changes on Monday to address Kentucky’s backlog of sexual assault evidence kits.
Edelen said more than 3,000 of the so-called “rape kits” were never tested and that some languished in evidence lockers for longer than 40 years. Rape kits contain physical evidence collected from victims after a sexual assault. Testing the kits can identify DNA and other evidence that can help identify and prosecute suspects. Edelen said he hopes eliminating the backlog of rape kits will be a priority in 2016.
Lack of funding and resources have been the main reason for the backlog of testing the kits according to officials. Source: WAVE