Thousands of Texas Rape Kits Never Tested
When rape victims come into D’An Anders’ office, they are traumatized and emotional. After enduring a devastating assault, they have also spent hours being prodded and swabbed in a hospital emergency room, providing evidence that they hope will help track down their attacker. Anders, a specialist with the Texas Advocacy Project, which provides free legal services to victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, is often the first to give them shocking news: the DNA from the rape kit they just spent hours providing may not be tested — ever.
In police departments across Texas, tens of thousands of rape ...
Comments (13)
JeffDaiell
In Maryland v. Tasker, the evidence showed that the perpetrator was Caucasian, but that evidence was suppressed and a black man convicted. When a new trial was sought, the evidence had mysteriously disappeared.
Jeff Daiell
JeffDaiell
The story can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-James-Tasker/152571924754979
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wendy is such a good person. I can't open the Star Telegram without seeing a picture of her. I can't wait until the next election with her on the ballot.
Tammy Fonce via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Nice article
Mark Ivey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Now that Obama is giving Two Billion to Brazil for offshore drilling, after crippling our Offshore Drilling Industry , I believe the American People need to start Civil Disobedience as the citizens in Egypt. I am sick and tired of corrupt government, that put the welfare of Foreigners before the welfare of Americans. A march on Washington with Firearms is now needed to get the Attention of our Representatives that are not looking out for America
Melody Simon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mark, your comment is convoluted and irrelevant to this article. In one sentence you advocate civil disobedience (which is not what's happening in Egypt by the way), and in another you're encouraging the use of firearms, which is antithetical to civil disobedience. MLK must be turning in his grave right now.
You certainly underscore the perception that teabaggers are poorly educated, particularly in history and the English language. Turn off glen beck and pick up a history book for pete's sake.
McKenna Welsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What you said, Melody!
Adele Mooney via Texas Tribune on Facebook
why hasn't this (documenting of DNA of rapists) been done alresdy? How long has this been possible, techbologically? and, thr im[ptant question: how many serial rapists could have been caught?
Glenda L. Minor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mark's comments are really scary. Marching on Washington with Firearms? Didn't we recently read about a deranged man that felt similarly and marched on a shopping center with a firearm and shot U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords among many others? Sometimes you should just be careful what you call for.
Jaye Ramsey Sutter via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It doesn't matter that it hasn't been done before--do it now. fund it now.
As for marches with weapons--wrong. We have a terrific system with the means for peaceful change. Why do something stupid and uncivilized.
And which America isn't being looked after? Corporate America is happy. Women, children, crime victims need our support. Write letters on their behalf. Women need help but they aren't going to get it if they advocate harming others. Women who have been raped are not going to make their point by threatening other people.
Enough violence. Rape victims don't need violence to speak for them.
Jerry Henrichs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They should allow private parties pay for the testing if they refuse to use tax dollars. As it is they protecting the guilty and condemning the wrongly accused.
Courtney Robertson
I appreciate this story very much. I had no idea. We owe it to every victim of rape & to every citizen to test these kits. What kind of message do we send rapists by not testing TENS of THOUSANDS of kits holding evidence of their crimes? Officials at police departments saying they are working on this is not enough. They sound like police departments in Mexico: "we understand this is a problem, crimes have occurred, and we're working on it."
Jaye Ramsey Sutter via Texas Tribune on Facebook
We cannot convict a person of rape based on a rape kit. We have to have a trial and find out how that semen was deposited in that woman. Do not make this a worse case situation every time. Did he think he had consent based on their prior relationship? Did she withdraw her consent. These issues are complicated. A rape kit do not a convicted rapist make by itself.
But it would be interesting to find out why more rapes are not prosecuted and kits processed.