Rape kit backlog elimination project

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Developed over the past four years by Alameda County District Attorney, Nancy O’Malley, the Rape Kit Backlog Elimination Project (“Program”) creates a framework and process to achieve four goals: to efficiently and effectively identify a backlog of untested rape kits; to conduct and complete forensic testing; to upload test results into a national database; and to use the resulting evidence to solve and prosecute sexual assault crimes. Working within the Program’s framework, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office was able to identify and catalogue nearly 2,000 untested rape kits languishing in Alameda County law enforcement storage. Forensic laboratories tested these kits and the results were uploaded into a national data base that tracks DNA profiles of criminal offenders. The information resulting from these tested kits will be used to pursue investigations into cold cases and prosecute the identified offender/s. The Program’s framework is readily replicable and is available to any community throughout the nation to assist them in conquering their own backlog.