PHOENIX (AP) - The testing of thousands of rape kits in Arizona's backlog has led to more than two dozen arrests and nearly as many convictions.
The Arizona Republic reported last week that the Arizona Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Task Force had recorded a backlog of 6,400 untested kits throughout the state in 2016, with some cases dating back decades.
The Tucson and Tempe police departments as well as the Maricopa County Attorney's Office have received federal grants, prompting a statewide effort to test the kits and resulting in new procedures to ensure every kit gets tested.
The Maricopa County Attorneys' Office has tested about 5,000 kits so far. Officials say the agency expects to have the backlog cleared before the end of year.
Tempe police say their backlog has been cleared.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
