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Federal funds can help tackle backlog of rape-kit tests
Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | September 19, 2012 | Senator John Cornyn

Posted on 09/22/2012 5:27:53 PM PDT by Altariel

In 1984, a young woman named Carol Bart was kidnapped outside her Dallas apartment and raped at knifepoint. She submitted herself to an invasive rape kit to collect evidence, which then sat idle for 24 years.

When the kit was finally tested, DNA samples promptly identified her attacker as Joseph Houston Jr., a jailed sex offender who had attempted to rape another woman only four months after he raped Bart.

By 2008, unfortunately, the statute of limitations on Bart's rape had expired, and her attacker could not be brought to justice for the crime.

Tragically, Bart's case isn't an anomaly; there are thousands of others like it. For example, a Dallas woman named Lavinia Masters was raped during a home invasion in 1985 when she was just 13, but her kit wasn't tested until 2006, at which point the statute of limitations had lapsed.

(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: johncornyn; rape; rapekit; texas

1 posted on 09/22/2012 5:27:58 PM PDT by Altariel
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To: Altariel

please

federal funds are never the answer


2 posted on 09/22/2012 5:29:55 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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How much does it cost?

I would pay the money myself if this happened to me and they refused to do anything.


3 posted on 09/22/2012 5:32:42 PM PDT by snowstorm12
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To: snowstorm12

According to this:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/rpt/2011-R-0260.htm

“Many states cite inadequate funding as a reason for their backlogs. It typically costs about $1,000 to process one rape kit.”

I haven’t looked into this, but surely there is a private charity that would be willing to provide the funding for this.

Disappointing (but not surprising) that a Republican senator would propose using federal funds, and not propose founding (and funding) such a charity, if none exists.


4 posted on 09/22/2012 5:38:51 PM PDT by Altariel ("Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!")
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To: Altariel

wouldn’t it be more logical and cheaper to extend that statute of limitations?

No amount of money is going to take care of the backlog.
One quick way to reduce the backlog is castration.


5 posted on 09/22/2012 5:42:35 PM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: 1_Rain_Drop

That’s what I was thinking. Sex crimes have a high re offender rate.


6 posted on 09/22/2012 5:44:43 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: Altariel
The SAFER Act would reallocate federal appropriations; it would not create new spending.

In other words, instead of the cops buying toys and games for their departments (Half-tracks, sound-blasters, SWAT gear, etc.) they need to use the funds for their victims. About time!

7 posted on 09/22/2012 8:02:31 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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