LAPD Rape Kit Backlog Could Be Cleared by 2010

Updated 8:13 AM PDT, Tue, Feb 10, 2009

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LOS ANGELES -- The number of untested rape kits in Los Angeles Police Department's evidence lockers is far fewer than previously calculated, officials said Monday, asserting that the backlog could be cleared by summer 2010.

The total of untested kits now stands at 4,423, opposed to the previous figure of nearly 7,000.

The pledge to eliminate the backlog is based on the assumption that staffing and funding levels remain unchanged, said Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.

"This is the beginning of the solution of this problem. This is not the end," Beck said. "Finally we can define the scope of the problem. We finally know what's in those freezers."

An audit released last year by City Controller Laura Chick concluded the LAPD had a backlog of 6,862 rape kits. Another 176 unanalyzed kits were part of cases being pursued by detectives.

During the last four months, 50 LAPD detectives spent 2,000 hours reviewing evidence in LAPD freezers and found 11,077 sexual assault evidence kits. Of those kits, 9,911 were actual assault cases and 4,718 of those were in fact tested, said police Chief William Bratton.

Another 770 cases failed to meet the legal standard of a crime, bringing the actual backlog of rape kits to 4,423. A single victim could be associated with more than one rape kit.

Following the release of Chick's audit, the Los Angeles City Council allocated $700,000 to hire 16 scientists and staff to analyze rape kit evidence and another $250,000 to have the kits tested by an outside firm.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has said he is committed to eliminating the backlog at a cost of $5 million.

A group of victims' advocates and law enforcement officials are scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the best way to clear the backlog. Detectives from Robbery-Homicide will also identify 400 cases that are top priority.

In California, there is a 10-year statute of limitations on a rape. LAPD officials found 118 untested rape kits that exceeded the 10-year statute however, Beck said the limitation would not apply to any of those crimes that were committed in connection with a murder or kidnap.