In 2014, the Wisconsin Department of Justice uncovered a massive backlog of some 6,000 unprocessed sexual assault kits. The state spent the next four years clearing through that backlog.
The incident unveiled serious flaws in the state’s sexual assault kit processing procedures — flaws the DOJ and state lawmakers are still working to address.
In the state legislature, a pair of bills aimed at reducing future backlogs passed the senate with bipartisan support last month.
Meanwhile, the DOJ is starting a companion tracking system that would let survivors of sexual assault monitor their kit as it makes its way through the testing system.
For more on those efforts, our producer Jonah Chester spoke with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.
(PHOTO: WORT News / Flickr)