Page 5 - Rape Kit Backlog News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> back in 2013, i saw prosecutor worthy on an episode of "rock center" and she was talking about the rape kit backlog. i was and still am absolutely horrified that this happened. it's unthinkable when you think about these women, victims of sexual assault, going through the long, arduous process of evidence collection off of their bodies, these kits are collected, turned over to the police and at that time, these kits were then just placed on shelves. i understand that detroit is really, really turning around, coming alive, it's an amazing resurgence here, but the city officials can't do it a...

What moved you to try to do something unusual here both in taking these bank penalty funds, putting them towards these rape investigations and doing it around the country? >> well, first of all, the reality is as you were stating that women around the country have been undergoing these invasive exams after sexual assaults which are designed to capture physical evidence, to look for dna in that physical evidence and determine whether there is someone incarcerated or with a criminal record that is actually responsibility for that crime. frankly, it's an injustice to the victims, women and men, w...

Up in what many people call a he-said, she-said debate. so the evidence is crucial and the fact that it's more expensive than some other what we might call simple crimes -- >> how big a step is this in the right direction? >> a huge step. i commend joe biden. it's a bold move but it's unsurprising coming from him. he's been such a great advocate for women. but i think it's interesting to point out that the four republican senators running for office right now, cruz, paul, graham and rubio, all voted against the reauthorization which had a provision to deal with the rape kit backlog. today rand...

Backlog and you indicated 29 cases filed and six convicted what that reflects is a national consensus that enough is enough and cities and counties around the country are i think being held accountable to reduce their rape kit backlog. houston is the latest example. new york did this in the early 2000 time period. >> new york and houston joining a small club of cities that have eliminated their backlogs, many around the country with many of these kits sitting sometimes for years. what are they not doing? >> i think it's principlely a question of -- it's a small price compared to the opportunit...

The senate but that's not aimed at ending the rape kit backlog. we'll see if the bill ultimately passes the house and senate and gets to the president's desk, if any desk. the personal e-mails about president obama that you were not supposed to see. now her public and a big-time hollywood producer is apologizing. plus, did you know that there's a hip-hop underground scene in cuba? they thought it could overthrow the castro government. ♪ hello... i'm an idaho potato farmer and our big idaho potato truck is still missing. so my buddy here is going to help me find it. here we go. woo who, w...