ENDTHEBACKLOG had the opportunity to interview Rick Bell, the Special Investigations Division Chief in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. Rick has been with the office for more than 20 years, working in every unit of the Criminal Division before being promoted to Criminal Investigations Division Chief. Rick directs the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit Task […]
Now Available through New Grant Program from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office For Immediate Release: April 1, 2015Contact: Melissa Schwartz, media@endthebacklog.org NEW YORK – The Joyful Heart Foundation today applauded the availability of $35 million in new grants to aid jurisdictions working to end the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States. The funding, […]
THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 16, 2015 “It’s the single-most significant and direct way to measure the character of a nation — when violence against women is no longer societally accepted, no longer kept secret, when everyone understands that even one case is too many. That’s when it will change.” […]
With the passage of Ohio’s new rape kit testing bill—signed into law in December—we are highlighting Ohio State Senator Capri Cafaro, the legislation’s sponsor, as today’s Featured Reformer. “The time to act is overdue. We have an obligation to assure justice for all victims regardless of when a crime occurred.” Ohio State Senator Capri Cafaro […]
“I know this milestone is of special importance to the rape survivors and their families and friends because it means their cases are receiving the attention they should have years ago. If there is a chance of prosecution in a case that has languished or new cases that are uncovered, that prosecution will happen.” Houston […]
This week in our Cold Case Convictions series, where we highlight cases in which the testing of rape kits years later helps bring perpetrators to justice, we turn to Cleveland. In Cleveland, five cold cases involving two perpetrators have been solved as a result of DNA evidence found in previously untested rape kits. Both Darnell […]
For Immediate Release: February 2, 2015Contact: Melissa Schwartz, media@joyfulheartfoundation.org NEW YORK – The Joyful Heart Foundation, one of the nation’s leading advocacy organizations working toward nationwide rape kit reform, applauded the release of President Obama’s FY16 budget today, which includes $41 million in funding for the Justice Department’s community-based sexual assault response initiative. DNA evidence […]
On Tuesday, January 6th 2015, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Detroit Crime Commission, and Michigan Women’s Foundation announced a new public-private collaboration for justice: Enough SAID (Sexual Assault in Detroit). Enough SAID is an independent project that will work to advocate for public dollars and also fundraise in the private sector, using the money to […]
Inclusion of $41 Million in Omnibus Spending Bill Follows D.A.’s Commitment of $35 Million Last Month “Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that the invasive examination they underwent had a purpose, and the resulting kit was not left to gather dust on a forgotten shelf. I thank Congressional leaders, sexual assault survivors, and their […]
