AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Hundreds of rape kits awaiting testing in Austin could be processed through a proposed $1.6 million contract with Dallas County.
The Austin American-Statesman reports a draft of the agreement faces an Austin City Council vote on Thursday.
Police Chief of Staff Brian Manley told council members Tuesday that the department hasn’t determined exactly how many kits the Dallas County lab would be able to process in the next year. As of early September, Austin police had about 600 recent sexual assault investigations pending – including 482 rape kits.
Austin’s crime lab, which processes DNA and other evidence, closed in May amid concerns raised by the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Austin police since then sent evidence to the Texas Department of Public Safety for processing, to help handle some cases.
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