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Supervisor Ronan urges hearing on untested rape kits and systemic failures in evidence handling and survivor care
Summary
Board member Hilary Ronan called for a citywide review and hearing into delays in processing sexual assault evidence and the handling of survivor cases, citing local reports of systemic failures and urging legislative and administrative solutions.
Supervisor Hilary Ronan used new‑business remarks on March 20, 2018 to call for a hearing to examine the city’s handling of sexual assault evidence and survivor services, citing local reports of “appalling systemic failures” and emphasizing the need to ensure survivors receive respectful, timely care and that evidence is processed.
Ronan referenced cases in other counties and noted national estimates of untested kits: "An independent organization has estimated that California has 13,000 untested kits," she said, and she described local complaints to her office, including survivors who said they waited hours for toxicology testing or were denied access to their own kit results. Ronan said she will work with the City Attorney on legislative fixes and asked departments to provide evidence‑collection, health services, investigative and prosecutorial process details.
Public comment at the meeting also included speakers (unnamed in the transcript) who alleged untested kits in San Francisco and asked for systemic change; one public commenter referenced 437 kits older than 10 years and urged evidence processing and statutory exceptions be applied.
Why it matters: Untested kits and slow or opaque evidence handling can delay or prevent accountability for sexual assault and reduce survivors’ trust in the system. Ronan framed processing of kits and survivor services as potentially life‑saving administrative reforms.
Next steps: Ronan asked to convene a citywide hearing with the Police Department, Department of Public Health, the District Attorney’s Office and other relevant entities to review evidence‑processing timelines, health care delivery for survivors, investigative procedures and prosecution practices. She also indicated potential legislative referrals to address gaps.
Distinction of roles: Ronan repeatedly separated discussion of possibilities from formal action; the board did not record a vote on a hearing at this meeting but the request was placed on the record as new business for scheduling.
