KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffThe reality of rape kit testing in southern Illinois

The reality of rape kit testing in southern Illinois

By Julia Bruck - bio | email

CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - It is a concern nationwide, the growing number of untested rape kits in storage.  Some date back more than 20 years.

A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police Forensic Lab says more than 540 DNA cases are backlogged in their system right now, some of which are rape kits.

In southern Illinois, most rape kits are tested at the Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Carbondale.

It is the forensic science center for all of Southern Illinois.

The turnaround time for sexual assault cases can be weeks to months.

Which some rape advocates say is actually better when compared to other parts of the state.

Megan Jones, The Women’s Center Coordinator for Rape Crisis Services showed Heartland News one of the rape kits.

It's used for training at The Women's Center in Carbondale.

That so when an advocate is called for assistance they can provide support for a rape victim as they go through another difficult experience.

Jones says during a rape kit exam evidence is taken from head to toe then sent to the crime lab for testing.

“We do appreciate the prompt service the Carbondale crime lab provides.  They do a good job of prioritizing the ones that have the highest level of forensic evidence,” Jones said.

She said most of the time that comes when there is strong evidence of a suspect.

However, she says when there is no suspect they usually see a delay.

“Those cases the kits can just sit there and sometimes go untested at all because the priority cases come in,” Jones explained.

“We strive to get the cases out as quickly as possible and with the highest quality and sometimes DNA analysis does take a long time to do,” Southern Illinois Forensic Science Center Lab Director Steven Klingaman said.

Klingaman says when a rape kit is submitted it is usually with clothes and other items from the crime scene.

“When a DNA case is brought into us it does get analyzed.  It may not be a first come first serve right away.  We would have to look at the case, determine what kind of case it is, prioritize it, then begin work,” Klingaman said.

Klingaman says a crime against a person gets top priority, especially when there a possible suspect.

However, he adds the amount evidence and its quality can affect when the case is completed.

A quick case can take up to about 2 weeks, while others take months.

Klingaman said they have some 30 DNA cases currently on their backlog for the end of October.

He adds some of the sexual assault cases date back to September, but most are currently being tested.

“When you deal with people's lives on a daily basis you have to make sure that everything is done correctly and to the highest quality,” Klingaman said.

But even after everything in the case is processed, sometimes no suspect is produced.

Klingaman says that's when the case falls back in the lap of law enforcement.

That is why Jones says it is important to believe every victim's story.

“Then more survivors will come forward and get the forensic exams and there will be greater evidence available to test and to use in the prosecution of rapist,” Jones said.

Both say there is always room for improvement.

Klingaman says their goal is to test every case that comes into their lab but he says, sometimes that just takes time.

If you are a victim of rape, contact The Women’s Center at 1-800-334-2094.  That is a 24-hour crisis hotline.

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