AG Josh Stein Ends Rape Kit Backlog in North Carolina

AG Josh Stein Ends Rape Kit Backlog in North Carolina

Yesterday, Attorney General and Democratic nominee for Governor Josh Stein announced the end of North Carolina’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits, representing an incredible step towards survivor justice that he’s made a core priority since 2017 when he entered office.

Thanks to his efforts, nearly 12,000 state kits have been tested or are in the process of being tested.

Stein stated: “Most importantly, I thank the victims for their bravery in submitting the evidence so we can hold their rapists accountable. Today’s excellent news is the result of an impressive team effort, but our work doesn’t end now. We’ve put in place measures to ensure that we never get into this situation again in North Carolina, and I intend to continue to do everything in my power to help law enforcement solve cold cases and get rapists off the streets and behind bars.”Read more on Josh Stein putting an end to North Carolina’s rape kit backlog below:

• Axios: North Carolina clears decades-long rape-kit backlog, AG Josh Stein says“North Carolina’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits, once the largest in the country, has been cleared, the state’s attorney general Josh Stein announced Tuesday. … For decades, around 16,000 untested sexual assault kits — which can provide evidence for making arrests — sat on shelves at hundreds of local crime facilities across the state, keeping potentially important evidence from being documented.”

• WRAL News: Justice for sexual assault victims: NC ends untested rape kit backlog “Over the past few years, the state crime lab has tested almost 12,000 rape kits that were collecting dust at local law enforcement offices. Attorney General Josh Stein says they found 2,700 DNA matches with offenders who were in the database for other crimes.”

• WCNC Charlotte: ‘Great day:’ North Carolina has caught up with untested rape kit backlog “Stein has prioritized ending this backlog to get justice for survivors since 2017. A statewide inventory determined more than 16,000 untested kits sat on the shelves of local law enforcement agencies in 2019.”

• CBS 17: Rape kit backlog ends in North Carolina, AG says“Attorney General Stein and the State Crime Lab implemented a tracking system to ensure that survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors and other stakeholders could monitor kits’ progress after they are collected. The attorney general’s office said the tracking system is in use and it will help prevent another backlog.”

• Cardinal and Pine: North Carolina Clears Long Backlog of Untested Rape Kits, Josh Stein Announce“Stein worked with legislators from both parties to pass legislation, secure funding, and create a thorough system to clear the backlog and seek justice for both victims and survivors, the attorney general’s office said in a news release. The legislation, the 2019 ‘Survivor Act,’ provided $6 million to test older kits and required law enforcement departments to submit the kits for testing within 45 days of collection.”

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