Tennessee funneling resources to eradicate rape kit backlog

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – In response to nationwide criticism about main delays in rape package testing, the state is spending hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to workers up Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) forensic labs, and the federal authorities is sending help, too.

Tennessee’s three state forensic labs are taking wherever from 28 weeks to 49 weeks to course of rape kits, and a backlog of greater than 900 rape kits awaits testing.

The TBI had requested state leaders for more cash to rent extra folks, however that request went unanswered till a horrific tragedy in Memphis made nationwide information.

The time, consideration and cash now being put into the TBI’s rape package testing is lengthy overdue, says Deborah Clubb with the Memphis Space Ladies’s Council, an advocacy group for rape survivors.

”It’s the suitable transfer,” Clubb instructed Motion Information 5, “It ought to have been executed years in the past. We want it. And now let’s make certain it will get executed.”

On Thursday, Governor Invoice Lee introduced state funding for 25 new TBI lab staff: eight in Jackson, which handles Memphis’ testing wants, 11 in Nashville and 6 in Knoxville.

“When TBI processes are working successfully and effectively,” Lee mentioned, “the crime might be decreased.”

To instantly velocity up testing, the TBI will:

• Present extra time to present workers
• Broaden operations to weekends
• Outsource eligible kits to personal labs
• Contract with retired TBI brokers to assist prepare new workers sooner

Additionally Thursday, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen introduced a $2.9 million federal grant to handle the backlog of rape kits in Tennessee.

”For some crime victims,” Cohen mentioned, “this funding comes too late, however it’s important to carry out well timed DNA pattern testing if justice is to be executed.”

The push for sooner testing comes after the high-profile homicide of Memphis college instructor Eliza Fletcher.

The person charged in her killing, Cleo Abston Henderson, can be charged with raping a younger mom, Alicia Franklin.

Her rape package sat on a shelf, untested for almost a 12 months after her assault. Henderson wasn’t charged along with her rape till after Fletcher’s abduction.

Franklin’s now suing the Metropolis of Memphis, her legal professional insisting if Franklin’s rape case had been dealt with expeditiously final 12 months when it occurred, Eliza Fletcher would nonetheless be alive.

”He (Cleotha Abston Henderson) could be in custody. He wouldn’t be on the streets of Memphis at 4:20 a.m. on September 2,” mentioned legal professional Jeff Rosenblum, “it’s particular Eliza Fletcher wouldn’t be useless.”

For Deborah Clubb, who went to work in 2014 with the Memphis Sexual Assault Activity Drive shaped by Mayor A C Wharton, after a backlog of greater than 12,000 rape kits was present in Memphis police storage, rushing up TBI rape package testing is the ultimate hurdle to serving to sexual assault victims in Tennessee.

”Let’s get all of them executed. Let’s get all the pieces again to zero and strengthen TBI,” Clubb mentioned, “in order that this doesn’t proceed to occur, these builds ups of untested proof.”

TBI Director David Rausch mentioned with all of those new steps, inside the subsequent 12 months, the company ought to be nearer to reaching its purpose of testing all proof inside eight to 12 weeks.

Click on right here to enroll in our e-newsletter!

Click on right here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please embody the headline.

Copyright 2022 WMC. All rights reserved.