A new report from the Monterey County Grand Jury shows law enforcement agencies in Monterey County may not be adequately staffed nor have the resources to properly process rape kits for sexual assault victims.
The Monterey County grand jury launched the investigation to determine how local law enforcement process rape kits and whether there's a backlog of untested kits.
Advertisement
That investigation fueled by media reports alleging a backlog of thousands of "untested" rape kits are in the hands of law enforcement agencies across the country.
The grand jury found that local law enforcement couldn't provide clear and consistent information as to whether there is any backlog.
“I am concerned with the finding that there may be an undetermined backlog I don't think there's enough data to support that given their investigation,” said Monterey County district attorney, Jeannine Pacioni.
A spokesman for the sheriff's office, which has investigated the second highest number of sexual assaults by local law enforcement, said they don't have a backlog of untested kits.
Prosecutors say testing a kit on a known suspect may not reveal a lot of information since most sexual assaults are not a case of who done it.
“Majority of our sexual assaults are a date rape acquaintance rape or a known family member or friend,” said Pacioni.
In their report, the grand jury wanted to know how this critical evidence is processed, maintained and safe guarded to protect the rights of victims.
“It is difficult to find out for survivors and I think it's largely due to capacity issue on the part of law enforcement so we're all for increasing capacity and increasing funding for our law enforcement partners,” said Lauren DaSilva, Deputy director for the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center.
Funding and information a large part of the grand jury's findings.
According to their investigation: there is no unified effort to track sexual assault occurrences and rape kit collection, and police departments lack advanced training and funding for sexual assault investigations.
Advocates for sexual assault victims say the report should be the catalyst to provide more information for victims and funding for police.
“We're in a unique position to make it a priority in our community and make sure that survivors are served that all of the partners that have a hand in this cases are well funded and that survivors feel supported and heard in the process as well,” said DaSilva.
A California law passed year requires all relevant agencies to report the status of any backlog of rape kits to the department of justice at the beginning of July.
June 19, 2019
KSBW 8
By Felix Cortez
No comments:
Post a Comment