Post by Logan on Oct 1, 2016 4:43:12 GMT -6
HELENA — Montana will test 1,400 rape kits dating back to 1995 that weren't submitted to the state's crime lab by local law enforcement authorities, Attorney General Tim Fox said Thursday.
The state also will add personnel to track the kits, counsel victims and investigate when DNA from the kits result in rape suspects being identified.
"We look forward to ensuring that unsubmitted sexual assault kits in Montana are tested, to helping bring closure to a horrific event in the lives of survivors, to serving justice to perpetrators and to protecting our citizens," Fox said.
Some of the kits, which are used to collect DNA and other evidence after a sexual assault, weren't tested because the victims were not willing to come forward or couldn't be found, or else because the evidence wasn't needed.
Read more: billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/montana-to-test-unprocessed-rape-kits-dating-to/article_61ffe360-ac28-5623-a2b7-ffff03457d69.html
The state also will add personnel to track the kits, counsel victims and investigate when DNA from the kits result in rape suspects being identified.
"We look forward to ensuring that unsubmitted sexual assault kits in Montana are tested, to helping bring closure to a horrific event in the lives of survivors, to serving justice to perpetrators and to protecting our citizens," Fox said.
Some of the kits, which are used to collect DNA and other evidence after a sexual assault, weren't tested because the victims were not willing to come forward or couldn't be found, or else because the evidence wasn't needed.
Read more: billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/montana-to-test-unprocessed-rape-kits-dating-to/article_61ffe360-ac28-5623-a2b7-ffff03457d69.html