AUSTIN, Texas -- Austin police are reporting a major breakthrough in one of the most delicate issues that has plagued the department for over a year.
“Where we stand today our kits are caught up and we are submitting kits from current assaults as they come into the department,” said Interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley.
A previous audit report showed serious flaws at the DNA lab including the use of outdated scientific practices among other things.
“There were issues with contamination and use of agents beyond their expiration date. All of that has already been addressed through that audit,” said Manley.
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Today, over 4,000 backlogged kits, some for decades, are now in the hands of forensics analysts.
“It’s really important that we try to have processes that are efficient and effective as possible,” said Coni Huntsman Stogner of SAFE Austin.
The lab, operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, has management dedicated to making sure it runs smoothly.
“I am responsible for and committed to the technical defensibility and quality of services coming out of the forensics science division,” said the forensics lab director Dana Kadavy.
While this is considerable progress for the department some say survivors still have a long way to go.
“It is just moving now from the backlog to the lab, there still hasn’t been resolution in specific cases,” said Stogner.
Advocates like Stogner are still motivated by the department’s direction and hope law enforcement, prosecutors and analysts can help in delivering justice.
“It’s so important to keep in mind that each of those thousands and thousands of kits represents someone who was sexually assaulted and represents a person and wants some closure and justice,” said Stogner.
Manley wants to capitalize on this momentum and encourages victims to come forward if they haven’t already.
“So that we can seek justice for you and that we can hopefully bring that offender into custody before he or she can victimize someone else in our community,” he said.
The lab is staffed by members of the police department, the city of Austin, as well as prosecutors at the local and regional levels.
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