SAN BERNARDINO >> The San Bernardino County Grand Jury report revealed an investigation into a possible backlog of rape kits to be processed at the sheriff’s forensic crime lab.
They found there is a backlog although none of the rape kits in the forensic crime lab exceeded the 10 year statute of limitations.
Rape kits can be held without degradation for four years and are prioritized according to the county’s case management protocols.
Those protocols place sexual kits that involve child molestations and stranger rapes as top priorities, the report says.
DNA evidence is taken from the kits and logged into Property Evidence Tracking System (PETS) and unless there’s a suspect identified DNA is placed into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.
The grand jury recommended the crime lab investigate potential public and private labs throughout the county to determine which agency conducts similar testing protocol as the county.
The backlog of rape kit cases can then be contracted out to those agencies.
The Grand Jury also recommends the Sheriff/Coroner’s office fill vacant positions and offer incentives to make it more attractive for potential prospects to work in San Bernardino as opposed to other counties in the surrounding areas.
July 2, 2016
San Bernardino Sun
By Doug Sanders
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