More Than 5,500 Previously Unprocessed Sexual Assault Kits Tested

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Attorney General Pam Bondi is highlighting Florida’s most recent progress in the state’s efforts to test the thousands of sexual assault kits that are not processed. The latest Sexual Assault Kit Progress Report, published this week by Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that 5,540 previously unprocessed kits have been tested as part of Florida’s efforts to eliminate the backlog of unprocessed sexual assault kits. As of September 2017, DNA from these kits have produced 1,373 CODIS hits. This latest progress report shows the state is on track to reach its goal of processing 8,600 kits by June 2019.

To view the most recent progress report, click here.

In 2015, Attorney General Bondi gathered law enforcement, prosecutors, victims and state lawmakers to advocate for state funding to process Florida’s thousands of untested kits. During the 2016 legislative session, Attorney General Bondi helped pass legislation to provide an initial $2.3 million for testing and additional funding to raise the wages of lab analysts, purchase new forensic testing equipment and upgrade existing lab equipment. Additionally, as of July last year, Florida law requires all newly collected sexual assault kits to be processed by the laboratory within 120 days of receipt.