1,100 Backlogged Rape Kits Found in 2016 Audit Have Been Tested, Idaho Officials Say

Idaho State Police have finished conducting tests on a hefty backlog of 1,100 rape kits discovered in a 2016 audit. The test results were given to investigators and prosecutors, while any hits in the National DNA Index System were shared with local law enforcement, the law enforcement agency said in a news release.

Rape kits can both help uncover any injuries from a sexual assault that aren't immediately visible and aid in the identification and prosecution of offenders, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

"Not only does DNA evidence carry weight in court, but it may prevent future sexual assaults from occurring. Even if the perpetrator is not prosecuted, their DNA may be added to the national database, making it easier to connect the perpetrator to a future crime," the organization wrote on its website.

The discovery of the rape kit testing backlog in the 2016 audit increased scrutiny on how local and state law enforcement handle cases of sexual assault and treat victims. The Idaho Legislature unanimously passed legislation that year regarding the processing of sexual assault kits.

Democratic state Senator Melissa Wintrow, who sponsored the law when she was a representative, noted the importance of completing testing on the backlog.

"It sends a really powerful message to people who are harmed this way that, 'Hey we are going to take these seriously, and it matters. It matters a ton,'" she told the Idaho Statesman. "I'm very relieved."

The law passed in 2016 had an estimated cost of more than $200,000 annually.

Matthew Gamette, Laboratory System director of Idaho State Police Forensic Services, said the agency is leading a statewide multidisciplinary team in addressing culture change relating to investigation, prosecution, and treatment of sexual assault survivors.

"This is a major step in building trust among sexual assault survivors, for assisting law enforcement, and providing critical information to policymakers," said Gamette. "Overall, the completion of these previously unsubmitted kits in Idaho is part of a bigger initiative to keep Idaho communities safe and combat the crime of sexual assault."

Since the rape kit law was passed in 2016, he said, the state has put in place a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and worked to ensure sexual assault survivors receive proper care. Part of that includes having specially trained nurses, and training medical providers as part of a strategy that ultimately will also help the state's criminal justice system in prosecutions.

"Our management and scientific staff recognized the critical importance of this work and put in exceptional effort to complete this project," said Colonel Kedrick Wills of the Idaho State Police. "I am proud of their accomplishment and what it means for solving and prosecuting crime in Idaho."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.