Sexual Assault Kit Testing & Senate Bill 22

Published: June 06, 2022 7 pages

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⚠️ 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 2 findings

As a result of funding shortfalls, crime labs are understaffed and under-equipped to meet SB 22 requirements. Assembly Bill 18 Language, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB18. Fact: To meet SB 22 mandated SAK testing timeframes without funds for additional staff and equipment, crime labs have shifted priorities and personnel away from other areas, such as: homicides, gang shootings, child abuse, property crimes, narcotics, and firearms testing. Fact: Ample financial resources are required for prioritized DNA evidence testing, because analysis is a costly service. Fact: The SDPD Crime Lab outsourced the testing of 1,806 backlogged SAKs to Bode Labs at a cost of $885/kit, for a total cost of approximately $1.6 million. Fact: SDPD continues to use Bode Labs for current SAK testing throughout 2022 at a new contracted price of $1,975/kit – over twice the original cost to test historical kits.

Availability of resources is often a limiting factor in the processing of Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs). Any concerted effort to process SAKs in a timely manner must include adequate staffing and financial resources.

Recommendations 4

22-19
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The Chief Administrative Officer for the County of San Diego lobby the
22-20
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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors increase budgetary appropriations
22-21
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The Government Affairs Department for the City of San Diego lobby the
22-22
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The San Diego City Council to increase budgetary appropriations that will

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of San Diego

September 26, 2022 • 3 pages • 2 responses • Score: +1 (+1, 1, 0) View Details ▾

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2 responses to findings and recommendations

The EPC engages an extensive list of stakeholders in routine collaboration to address the issue of elder abuse in San Diego County; however, the County’s commitment to coordinating a response to elder abuse has not extended to include CBSC managements’ attendance at scheduled meetings of both EPC and AIS. Fact: California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 15630 establishes legal responsibility for mandated reporting as well as penalties for failure to report. Fact: Mandated reporter training i...

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Chief of Police disagrees in part with the Grand Jury's finding. The SDPD Chief of Police agrees that the requirements of SB 22 necessitate additional crime lab resources. However, prior to SB 22, the SDPD crime lab was adequately staffed and equipped for work being performed.

Regardless of whether CBSC staff qualify as mandated reporters, since the staff of CBSCs interact on a regular basis with their senior clientele, receiving mandated reporter training would be beneficial for them to recognize signs of elder abuse and how to report suspected elder abuse. Fact: CBSCs are regularly used by seniors and are a critical point for addressing elder abuse.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The SDPD Chief of Police agrees with the Grand Jury's finding. Processing SAKs timely requires an appropriate level of in-house expertise and resources, resources for a reliable contractor to process SAKs, or a combination of the two. RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS: <b>

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

San Diego County Sheriff Elected County Office