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keli.rabon@wreg.com
Facebook - WREG On Your Side Investigators
Twitter - @nc3investigates
(Memphis - 2/19/2010) More than 600 rape kits are on their way to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, after our On Your Side Investigation, the Memphis Police Department has changed it's policy on rape kit testing.
"From this point forward, since TBI has indicated they want it, we will send the test kits up," City of Memphis CAO George Little said.
A News Channel 3 Investigation uncovered more than one thousand rape kits were never tested for DNA evidence. TBI says, it's because the Memphis Police Department did not submit them.
Now, Little says the city is changing it's policies to submit all rape kits, instead of picking and choosing which rape kits to send.
"I was told by MPD they had received that recommendation, and they were in process of collecting the backlogged kits, and from this point forward, they would send the kits up to TBI," Little said.
This change does not guarantee these kits will be tested for DNA. MPD says, that's out of it's hands.
"That would be outside of our jurisdiction. That would be a question for our Shelby County DA's office to better address what their practices will be," Little said.
In a statement, the DA's spokesperson says "we will continue to approve any requests by local law enforcement to send rape kits to the TBI to be tested."
Kurt Steinbach hopes all rape kits will be DNA tested. He started an online petition that he plans to send to Gov. Bredesen and Mayor Wharton.
"A lot of people think, we cant do it. That law is law, policy is policy. But if you don't try, nothing can change," Steinbach said.
Janna Herbison with the Tennessee Women's Political Caucus says her organization plans to look at legislation on rape kit testing.
"I would like to see if this is mainly a problem in Shelby County, or if it's a problem statewide. If it's also a problem in other jurisdictions, we can look at legislation," Herbison said.
Now, regular citizens working to make sure rape kits are DNA tested, and the MPD is taking steps to solve more crimes.
"That is being collected [the 600 rape kits] and is going to be sent up to TBI just as soon as they can," Little said.
- An On Your Side Investigation prompts change in MPD Rape Kit Policy.
- All rape kits will now be submitted to the TBI for testing.
- Since our investigation first aired, MPD has gathered 600 rape kits from the backlog to send off immediately.
keli.rabon@wreg.com
Facebook - WREG On Your Side Investigators
Twitter - @nc3investigates
(Memphis - 2/19/2010) More than 600 rape kits are on their way to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, after our On Your Side Investigation, the Memphis Police Department has changed it's policy on rape kit testing.
"From this point forward, since TBI has indicated they want it, we will send the test kits up," City of Memphis CAO George Little said.
A News Channel 3 Investigation uncovered more than one thousand rape kits were never tested for DNA evidence. TBI says, it's because the Memphis Police Department did not submit them.
Now, Little says the city is changing it's policies to submit all rape kits, instead of picking and choosing which rape kits to send.
"I was told by MPD they had received that recommendation, and they were in process of collecting the backlogged kits, and from this point forward, they would send the kits up to TBI," Little said.
This change does not guarantee these kits will be tested for DNA. MPD says, that's out of it's hands.
"That would be outside of our jurisdiction. That would be a question for our Shelby County DA's office to better address what their practices will be," Little said.
In a statement, the DA's spokesperson says "we will continue to approve any requests by local law enforcement to send rape kits to the TBI to be tested."
Kurt Steinbach hopes all rape kits will be DNA tested. He started an online petition that he plans to send to Gov. Bredesen and Mayor Wharton.
"A lot of people think, we cant do it. That law is law, policy is policy. But if you don't try, nothing can change," Steinbach said.
Janna Herbison with the Tennessee Women's Political Caucus says her organization plans to look at legislation on rape kit testing.
"I would like to see if this is mainly a problem in Shelby County, or if it's a problem statewide. If it's also a problem in other jurisdictions, we can look at legislation," Herbison said.
Now, regular citizens working to make sure rape kits are DNA tested, and the MPD is taking steps to solve more crimes.
"That is being collected [the 600 rape kits] and is going to be sent up to TBI just as soon as they can," Little said.
