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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Sheriff’s Department Has Backlog of Untested Rape Kits

    In recent weeks, LAPD Chief William Bratton conceded that DNA evidence in 7,000 rape cases was stored in freezers without being examined. Additional staff will be hired and private labs will be paid to clear up the backlog. Now it turns out that the Sheriff's Department of LA County has stored untested DNA from 5,635 cases.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    In recent weeks, LAPD Chief William Bratton conceded that DNA evidence in 7,000 rape cases was stored in freezers without being examined. Additional staff will be hired and private labs will be paid to clear up the backlog. Now it turns out that the Sheriff's Department of LA County has stored untested DNA from 5,635 cases. Nobody knows how many cases have gone unsolved, how many rapists have gone free or how many innocent people have been convicted. Maybe the evidence wasn't needed at all. We talk with Sheriff Lee Baca and others.

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Genetic Evidence: Collected but Never Looked at Again
    1. 1:13Sheriff’s Department Has Backlog of Untested Rape KitsYou’re reading this
    2. 17:49Anger, Organizing Follow Proposition 8
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Joel Rubin

      Los Angeles Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Lee Baca

      Sheriff of Los Angeles County

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Tofte

      Researcher with the US Program, Human Rights Watch

      News

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Genetic Evidence: Collected but Never Looked at Again
    1. 1:13Sheriff’s Department Has Backlog of Untested Rape KitsYou’re reading this
    2. 17:49Anger, Organizing Follow Proposition 8
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?