I'm writing to update you on my reporting efforts on the cost of the DNA backlog in Los Angeles. I've spent the past couple weeks searching for sources. It hasn't been easy. After talking to a lot of people, the controller's office, advocacy organizations and attorneys, it seems what I was hoping to find might not be available, at least in aggregate form. That's okay -- because that's somewhat of a story in itself which I'll talk about in more detail soon. We'll see how things go from here on out. I've managed to make contact with quite a few people I think can help pull this story together, but I won't know specifics until I hear back from a few advocacy organizations, like RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network). I'll be updating you more soon.
The local CBS affiliate says San Diego has 2,000 untested rape kits -- and that they don't plan to ever get around to testing them. "'The San Diego Police Department has a remarkably good sex crimes unit, so if there’s any chance that testing a kit could lead to a successful prosecution then we test it,' said Michael Grubb, San Diego PD Crime Lab Manager. According to Grubb, the department has 2,065 rape kits in storage that were never sent to the crime lab."
Posted by Justin McLachlan on 12/03/09"Interest is high when a major crime happens, but then it may take three or four years before a defendant is brought to justice," writes Steve Swenson in the Bakersfield California. He lists a host of reasons that a criminal case can take years to get to trial, but notes that until just last year, the Kern County Crime Lab had a backlog of DNA samples waiting to be tested.
"For example, it's been more than three years now since sheriff's deputy Joe Hudnall was killed in a crash in the Kern River Canyon.
The defendant, attorney Daniel Patrick Willsey, still hasn't faced a jury as his case has been dragged out by blunders in the crime lab and possible conflicts in the district attorney's office."
Posted by Justin McLachlan on 11/26/09
