Kansas City, MO - Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt says the state has a new plan to address its problem with thousands of untested rape kits.
A report released in 2018 said there was an estimated 5,400 kits containing physical evidence of alleged sexual assaults.
"I hope survivors are relieved that this issue is finally being addressed," said Julie Donelon, CEO of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). "This is been something that has been going on for years, and to see that the state of Missouri is making this a priority, I think that's an important message being sent to survivors in our community."
The backlog initiative will be funded with a $2.8 million foderal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
"These kits are not just numbers, they're not just footnotes in reporting crimes, they represent real human beings," said Jasper County Judge Keithley Williams, who is leading the initiative.
"Within six months, we will complete a detailed inventory of sexual assault kits with police departments and hospitals in Missouri," Judge Williams said. "We will then tackle forensic DNA testing and the development of an electronic tracking system required by law. Working together with law enforcement, health care professionals, victim advocates and concerned citizens, we will seek justice for all those who have been victimized."
The first step in the Schmitt's plan is to collect and build an inventory of the untested kits and hunt down the one that have not been reported. Investigators will look for all kits turned in prior to April 29, 2018. Anything after that date will be considered current cases.
Donelon said MOCSA hopes the state is able to avoid backlogs in the future.
