In 2009 more than 11,000 untested rape kits were discovered in Detroit’s abandoned crime lab. Rape kits contain the physical evidence of victims of sexual assault. When processed, the DNA data generated can be used not only to bring perpetrators to justice, but also to add this information to a national database of sex offenders. This is especially useful because those who commit these crimes are often serial rapists — if they are successfully prosecuted, it can prevent future instances and help victims to find closure.
In response to the situation, the state of Michigan passed a law to fund the processing of these rape kits. Still, there has been a need for private donations and fundraising campaigns to get through the backlog and then to provide money for investigators to actually finish the job.
It’s easy for those outside the city to shake our heads (or wag our fingers) and say this is all just another example of Detroit’s uniquely awful dysfunction. But as it turns out, further investigation has revealed that smaller cities and towns are also suffering from backlogged rape kits. From a recent Michigan Radio report:
“The Michigan Attorney General asked cities to submit a count of untested rape kits in their jurisdictions. Backlogs turned up in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing, Battle Creek and several others.”
Exactly why this is, experts don’t really know, but the Detroit experience provides clues: Budget cuts and overwhelmed staffs. The lack of a clear and complete procedure for the entire process. Police sometimes callous indifference to the victims.
We are six weeks away from an election, so now is a pretty good time to ask: Do we want a responsive, reasonably funded government interested in real protection and prevention? Or do we want to continue down a path where rape victims end up depending on bake sales to provide them proper support? Please vote accordingly.
John Auchter draws cartoons. Lots and lots of them. You can find them at his incredibly popular website auchtoon.com.
I can’t even begin to imagine the horrors of a sexual assault.
With 11,000 untested kits found in Detroit, not to mention how many more from other large cities as well, it’s alarming that some of the victims did not come forward demanding to know where this evidence was; or how about the victims who have attorneys? Why did they not follow up on this? There are probably many victims who do not want to come forward for whatever reason, but 11,000 plus more?
I would hazard a guess that Michigan is not alone in this problem. The victims of these crimes deserve far better than they have received. For far too long underfunding of government has become the norm in this country yet citizens still want the services. Look at our schools, look at our infrastructure–roads, bridges, airports, sewer systems, water supplies, electrical grids–all across this country. If it was just here in Michigan, I’d say something was wrong here; but this is a problem everywhere. And before the anti-taxers spew their normal spiel about “waste, fraud and abuse”, give me a break. I worked for 40 years in both private business and public service, and I don’t see where private industry does things any better than public institutions. I saw much more waste, fraud and abuse committed by the higher-ups in private industry than I ever saw in public service.
Okay. I am anti-rape, and skeptical about Detroit, BUT! I heard the Milwaukee Police Chief talk about this topic on the radio…
Many rape kits get no tests because the rapists plead guilty. And, because other evidence convicts them. And, for many other okay reasons. The numbers of untested rape kits are not the point.
Many times, apparently, it is unnecessary to test a kit in order to get a conviction. This is not as simple an issue as it seems. Just letting you know.
As I see it government underfunding isn’t the problem. Funding wasted on projects that are done to win votes or pay back a supporter are a big problem. These waste money that could be spent on important things….like testing rape kits.