Charlotte
Backlog Snapshot
Untested Kits:
1,019*
Testing:
In Progress
*As reported by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in November 2014
In July 2015, USA Today reported Charlotte has 801 untested kits
Charlotte is one of the cities where we are using public records requests to uncover the number of untested rape kits in police storage. Through our efforts, we have learned Charlotte has a backlog of 1,019 untested kits. It is currently unclear how far back these kits date. To learn more about our process, click here.
In September 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was awarded $557,974 in funding to test 885 rape kits.
Right now, there is more we do not know about the backlog than we do know because few state governments and no federal agencies require law enforcement to track rape kit data. For that reason, we have undertaken The Accountability Project to bring greater transparency and accountability around rape kit testing practices nationwide.
Additional Information
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department is the only North Carolina police department with its own crime lab. In 2012, the Department's Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit, which launched in 2006, received a $500,000 federal grant. The Department uses this funding to staff five positions, including a DNA analyst and prosecutor, which will help to clear approximately 2,000 cases. A previous grant allowed the Department to clear 120 cases, resulting in 27 convictions and 41 arrests.
Local News
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September 28, 2015
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Featured National News
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