Oklahoma lawmakers held a joint interim study examining how to reduce delays in testing sexual assault evidence kits and improve storage of kits from survivors who are not ready to report to law enforcement.
Representatives Melissa Provenzano and Cynthia Roe, along with Senators Carri Hicks and Julie McIntosh, brought law enforcement officials and other experts before the House Public Health Committee to discuss gaps in the process.
“Today, we heard from law enforcement professionals and experts that identified areas of improvement and solutions the legislature can take to reduce the turnaround time for forensic testing of sexual assault kits and to more quickly work toward the justice all Oklahomans deserve,” Provenzano said.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported that kit submissions tripled after a 2019 law required all reported kits to be submitted. Officials discussed shorter collection timelines and ways to move evidence through the system more quickly.
Hicks said lawmakers should use lessons from the state’s backlog to prevent future delays.
“As we near the end of clearing this backlog, we must turn lessons learned into bold action by establishing clear timelines, strengthening accountability, and ensuring every survivor has a path to swift justice,” Hicks said.
Tulsa police requested approximately $400,000 in state funding to send kits to an outside laboratory for testing. Oklahoma City police recommended a 180-day timeline for reported kits while allowing forensic experts to determine what additional testing is needed.
The study also examined how evidence is transferred, tracked and stored, including when a survivor has not reported an assault.
“No kit should be lost, left behind or delayed unnecessarily,” Roe said. “Survivors deserve a system they can trust at every level of this process.”
McIntosh said the discussion highlighted the need to support those working on the cases.
“Every sexual assault evidence kit left waiting on a shelf represents a person who is waiting for justice,” McIntosh said.
