Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Assault Kits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wisconsin AG says state tested designated untested sexual-assault kits and pushed for policy changes
Summary
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kahl described a multi-year assault-kit initiative that identified and tested previously untested kits, said testing revealed cases that might have led to earlier identification of perpetrators, and linked stronger victim representation to better outcomes.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kahl discussed his state's multi-year initiative to locate and test previously untested sexual-assault kits, and said the testing effort has informed policy recommendations for preventing future backlogs.
"We've now tested all the kits that were designated for testing, and one of the things that that has shown is that there are cases that if the testing had occurred at the time the kit was submitted, the person who committed a violent crime may have been identified," Kahl said. He added that stronger victim representation — including access to legal services — can materially affect outcomes for survivors.
Kahl said the effort has led his office to advocate for policy changes to strengthen practices so similar backlogs do not recur. He framed victim representation and access to counsel as essential to meaningful victims’ rights.
