Gaby Lion
Volume 69, Volume 3, 1009-1038
This Note discusses the current status of the rape kit backlog, and how it can be addressed through successful public-private partnerships in the DNA testing industry. DNA evidence contained inside rape kits is an invaluable investigative tool to solve and prevent crime. Despite their immense utility, rape kits remain untested due to overburdened public crime labs with insufficient resources. On top of this, onerous FBI regulations prevent private crime labs from joining forces with public labs to test these kits. The aim of this Note is to shine a light on-and to introduce initiatives to eliminate-the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits in the United States.