Rape Kit Backlog Up To Date In San Diego At Last, Police Say

Crime & Safety Rape Kit Backlog Up To Date In San Diego At Last, Police Say These kits can identify sexual-assault offenders, supporting prosecutions and delivering justice to survivors, some attacked prior to 2016.

These kits can identify sexual-assault offenders, supporting prosecutions and delivering justice to survivors, some attacked prior to 2016. (Shutterstock)

SAN DIEGO, CA — The city of San Diego's police department has worked through its backlog of untested sexual-assault evidence kits. On Wednesday, they announced a key mileston for the agency, announcing that every rape kit has been tested for DNA analysis.

The accomplishment for the SDPD puts the department in compliance with California Senate Bill 22 from 2019, which required law enforcement agencies across the state to conduct more timely DNA analyses of sex-assault forensic evidence.

In August of that year, the SDPD had an estimated 1,800 untested rape kits, Capt. Brent Williams said.

In 2020, the agency turned to a contract laboratory, Bode Cellmark Forensics, to help meet the mandate. The work, according to SDPD officials, was divided into three phases: -- A total of 450 SB22-mandated kits from 2016-19. They were all tested by December 2021.

-- Another 1,350 so-called "historical" kits dating from prior to 2016. They were tested by October 2024. -- An additional 873 kits from 2020-24. They were tested by November of last year.

While Bode focused on the backlog, the SDPD laid the groundwork to bring all future testing in-house, according to Williams. Between 2020 and 2024, the department invested in staffing, lab renovations and new equipment, while streamlining procedures to ensure that incoming kits could be processed efficiently and thoroughly, he said. Due to those improvements, the SDPD Crime Lab now tests sex-assault forensic evidence significantly faster than before -- averaging a 45-day turnaround, well ahead of the 145-day requirement set by SB22, Williams said.