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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2015-2016
Rape Kit Processing in San Mateo County Issue | Summary | Glossary | Background | Discussion | Findings |
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 5 findings
F1
The testing of rape kits in a timely manner is vital to law enforcement as well as to victims.
F2
AB 1517 (the Sexual Assault Victims’ DNA Bill of Rights) recommends that forensic laboratories process all rape kits within 120 days of receipt.
F3
As of June 2016, there is no backlog of new rape kits in San Mateo County. The procedures employed by local law enforcement, the Keller Center, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory result in the timely processing of rape kits, according to the timeframes recommended by AB 1517.
F4
The procedures and timeframes in AB 1517 are recommendations and not mandates; the State of California can only encourage counties to adopt the guidelines because the State does not provide any funding.
F5
The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory does not currently report comprehensive statistics on rape kit processing to the public; however, the Lab keeps records on rape kit testing and analysis that could be compiled and released.
Recommendations 2
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R1The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory should follow the recommendations of AB 1517— the Sexual Assault Victims’ DNA Bill of Rights—as their standard procedure and should test and analyze rape kits and enter qualified data into CODIS of receipt.
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R2The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory should annually produce a publicly available report concerning its processing of rape kits that includes, but is not limited to: the number of rape kits received from the Keller Center, the law enforcement agency associated with each kit, the number of kits tested and analyzed by the Lab, the number of DNA profiles uploaded to CODIS, the number of rape kits not tested at law enforcement request, and the reasons for not testing. Statistics should also include the number of days from login at the Lab to completion of processing. Victim Services is an organization within the District Attorney’s Office that assists victims of violent crimes with claims for financial reimbursement from the state for such things as housing, relocation, and therapy.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
San Mateo County Sheriff
Elected County Office