Citation

Davis RC, Auchter B, Wells W, Camp T, Howley S. Violence Against Women 2019; ePub(ePub): 1077801219838330.

Affiliation

Justice Research and Statistics Association, Washington, DC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801219838330

PMID

30971179

Abstract

Many cities and states have taken steps to identify and process all untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). Texas was one of the first states to enact such legislation-SB 1636-which created a time line for a statewide audit and mandatory testing of SAKs. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the effects of SB 1636 at both state and local levels. The study did not detect any effect of SB 1636 on reporting, arrests, or convictions. The legislation did have a significant effect on criminal justice workloads, particularly crime laboratories.

Language: en

Keywords

DNA backlog; sexual assault; sexual assault in Texas; sexual assault kit backlog; sexual assault kit testing; state legislation on DNA testing