Reducing the Backlog of Dna Rape Kits
Adopted at the in 2010
WHEREAS, rape is a serious problem in the U.S. where the latest Department of Justice statistics from 2006 indicate there were an estimated 261,000 rapes and sexual assaults with only 1/3 of these crimes being reported ; and
WHEREAS, the collection and testing of DNA evidence is a critical tool in solving rape cases; and
WHEREAS, there is a significant rape kit backlog in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, a 2008 survey by the National Institute of Justice of state and local governments who had applied for funding under the FY09 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program showed a backlog of 70,693 cases, resulting in cases taking several years for processing; and
WHEREAS, due to burdensome and unnecessary technical review requirements imposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Laboratories, published in July 2009, a second backlog of cases is developing; and
WHEREAS, kits that have been tested at a vendor Forensic DNA Laboratory have been returned to the public crime laboratory for technical review; and
WHEREAS, due to a lack of local resources and staffing in conducting the technical reviews, there are delays of many months in the data being able to be uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), resulting in offenders out on the streets for longer periods and assaulting more victims; and
WHEREAS, the FBI is in the process of evaluating the technical review regulations with the intent to revise them later this year, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls upon the Federal Bureau of Investigation to revise the 100 percent technical review requirement and that the FBI work with state and local law enforcement agencies to develop alternatives that allow for the speedy reduction of the DNA backlog while maintaining the integrity of the testing and its results.