Community Impact
Read the statistics and how it affects your community’s health.
Read the statistics and how it affects your community’s health.
In the City of Los Angeles, approximately 7,200 DNA rape kits sit in refrigerated storage in a city warehouse. They have not been analyzed because there is not enough LAPD staff to catch up with the backlog while processing current cases. This means that women who have been victims of sexual assault have not gotten the emotional closure that comes with conviction of the rapist. This means that other women are in danger because when a rapist isn’t caught, he WILL strike again. Unfortunately, the crime of rape has the lowest arrest, prosecution and conviction rate of all other violent crimes. Justice is not being served when criminals are not apprehended, giving the the opportunity to commit more crimes.
With no city funding for the backlog, the crime lab just keeps up with current cases. Our challenge is to create a public-private partnership to address this serious problem. The challenge is to eliminate the backlog in the interest of public safety and justice. The city budget is shrinking while needs are growing. Analyzing rape kits, identifying and apprehending offenders and untying the knot that has kept the cases from moving forward will make a tremendous contribution to the victims and their loved ones. It will improve the quality of all of our lives.
With no city funding for the backlog, the crime lab just keeps up with current cases. Our challenge is to create a public-private partnership to address this serious problem. The challenge is to eliminate the backlog in the interest of public safety and justice. The city budget is shrinking while needs are growing. Analyzing rape kits, identifying and apprehending offenders and untying the knot that has kept the cases from moving forward will make a tremendous contribution to the victims and their loved ones. It will improve the quality of all of our lives.