Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter Wednesday announced his office is assuming the responsibilities of the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Task Force. The Task Force has been auditing the number of untested rape kits that law enforcement agencies still have in evidence.
The decision comes after Hunter obtained both Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Kevin Stitt and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Drew Edmondson’s support to put the functions of the task force under the purview of the Attorney General’s Office.
“The members of the task force made monumental strides throughout the course of their meetings,” Hunter said. “They have produced a solid foundation of policy recommendations. I look forward to working with the members of the task force and members of the legislature on both sides of the aisle in a deliberate way to deliver meaningful reforms and the funding necessary to assist law enforcement efforts to bring justice for victims.
“This is not a partisan issue. In order to get the state where it needs to be and further support victims, we must put political differences aside and work together to find practical solutions.”
The audit found more than 7,200 untested rape kits. The Task Force has issued a report with suggested protocols on how to handle future test kits and how to address the current backlog.
