District Attorney angry over thousands of untested sex crime kits Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT REPORTER: BETWEEN 1990 AND 2016, BIRMINGHAM POLICE COLLECTED MORE THAN 3000 SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAS FOUND OUT 87% OF THOSE KITS WERE NEVER SENT TO A LAB FOR TESTING. >> IF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS WERE NOT DELIVERED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, FOR WHATEVER REASON FOR ANALYSIS, THEN THE INVESTIGATIONS WERE NEVER COMPLETED. SHERI: -- REPORTR: ARYN GEIGER-SEDGWICK HAS WORKED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. NOW SHE RUNS A PROGRAM TO BATTLE A MAJOR BACKLOG OF SEX CRIME CASES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. >> FOR SOMEBODY TO HEAR,15 YEARS -- HEAR, 15 YEARS AFTER THE FACT, TEN YEARS AFTER THE FACT, TWO DAYS AFTER THE FACT, THAT NOBODY HAS LOOKED AT THAT, IS DEVASTATING FOR SURVIVORS. REPORTER: WHAT DOES THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT THE SAY? THIS SAY THE PROBLEMS AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE LIMITED RESOURCES AND STAFFING AT THE FORENSIC LABS IS IT -- PREVENTS THEM FROM HANDLING THE HIGHER VOLUME. BUT A STATE LAB REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE EVIDENCE FROM 450 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND THAT THEY NEVER TOLD BIRMINGHAM POLICE NOT TO TURN IN SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS. GOING FORWARD DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE ANDERTON SAYS HE WANTS HIS OFFICE TO REVIEW EVERY SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPLAINT. >> IT’S INVESTIGATED. WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE IT IS, SO IT DOESN’T GET LOST IN THE SYSTEM AND POTENTIALLY LEAVE -- SYSTEM. REPORT

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