Comments on: LA’s Untested Rape Kit Problem Continues

By: tracy

tracy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:41:42 +0000

I AM A VICTIM- IT HAPPEN MARCH 2006/I HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH LAPD- KNOWING THAT THE MAN WENT TO TRAIL AND MY EVIDENCE WAS STILL PENDING AND THEY TOOK MY STATEMENT AFTER HE WENT TO COURT….CAN ANYONE HELP OR POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION TO SUE LAPD

By: LA Responds to Rape Kit Backlog : The Curvature

LA Responds to Rape Kit Backlog : The Curvature — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:46:55 +0000

[...] I’ve recently written about LA’s backlog of untested rape kits and how over 200 rape cases recently passed the statute of limitations — thanks to negligence which prevented it from being extended — without the kits being tested. The NY Times also recently reported that the problem is widespread across the U.S. [...]

By: hysperia

hysperia — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:19:45 +0000

Rape is only believable and important when it leaves the victim dead. Honestly, I believe this.

By: Astraea

Astraea — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:04:08 +0000

This is outrageous. I’d love to see those women sue the LAPD for a violation of their rights. I don’t think anything can be done about the statute of limitations, and that it’s very difficult to sue a government entity, but the LAPD needs to be held responsible.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:03:35 +0000

Sarah makes a good point. Those tests are getting cheaper to perform. Testing the kits would also likely result in dozens (or more) of airtight cases simply because they caught the rapist for some other crime and have his DNA on file. Since testing those kits is simple, doable, and obvious, I think the fact that they are not processed speaks volumes about law enforcements’ priorities.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:20:12 +0000

Especially interesting since I was reading in the paper ten minutes ago that now DNA tests are so cheap ($50) they are commonly used in burglaries etc. whereas once they were used only in major crimes like murder. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10538746&ref=rss

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:43:03 +0000

Between Palin charging women for their rape kits and the tests themselves sitting on shelves untested it can be fairly said that rape is a crime that is not take seriously.
When I think of how traumatic it is to allow a rape kit to be taken after being violated so terribly to know that the results are not even tested is sickening. I completely understand why it is that women are not reporting their assaults.