Fixing LA's Untested Rape Kit Crisis, Locally and Statewide

Update from Hollywood NOW: Monday, the LA City Council's Budget & Finance Committee hearing on the LAPD's section of the budget took place.  Many supporters came and spoke in public comment to protect every cent and every position allocated in the Mayor's budget to eradicate the backlog.  However, the Committee is considering making a recommendation that includes eliminating ALL new positions & instituting a hiring freeze, which would effectively destroy our plan and ensure that the backlog will continue to grow.  WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN!  

When New York cleared out their backlog of unanalyzed rape cases, they found 2,000 DNA matches, and solved 154 cold rape cases. Here's a current case that shows just how essential DNA evidence can be to rape prosecutions.

You can take action here to contact the Los Angeles City Council about this issue.  Hollywood NOW has also created a letter that you can send to the LA Budget & Finance Committee Members.  Please fill in each Committee Member's name and sign at the bottom. We also have a complete list of local officials to contact about this issue. Please email, mail, call, and fax these offices as much as you can this week.  They make their final recommendation on Monday, and they need to know that this must remain a priority!!!   Many thanks to Hollywood NOW for their excellent work on this issue!

On a statewide level, California NOW is supporting AB 1017, Sexual Assault Crimes. (Portantino).  This bill relates to the Sexual Assault Victims' DNA Bill of rights, and requires law enforcement agencies to inform victims if their DNA rape kit evidence is not analyzed within a specified amount of time.  It also requires that agencies report to the Department of Justice the total number of sexual assault crimes reported in their jurisdiction.  Read an article by Assemblymember Portantino on the importance of the bill. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and we will keep you informed of its progress.  You can take action here to let your State Senator and Assemblymembers to support AB 1017.