Bill requiring Phoenix PD to use rape kit tracking program passes Senate panel
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A measure that would require the Phoenix Police Department to used the state’s real-time rape kit tracking program passed an Arizona Senate committee on Wednesday afternoon.
House Bill 2581 has already made it through the House. Supporters say the proposal is necessary because Phoenix Police is the only law enforcement agency in the state not using the rape kit tracking system.
“We’re here to support survivors,” said Brooke Fulton with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Being raped is one of the most personal, violent crimes. Authorities urge survivors to undergo an invasive exam, explaining that police need the evidence to track down their attacker.
But as Arizona’s Family Investigates found, it can take many months, sometimes well over a year to get the results of that rape kit back with survivors left waiting.
“That was one of the most frustrating things about it,” Kate said. Kate asked that we not give her last name. Arizona’s Family Investigates interviewed her back in November as part of a story about the rape kit backlog at Phoenix PD. “It took over a year and a half for it to be tested the first time and there were subsequent rounds of testing that took months,” Kate explained.
Track-Kit changes that by putting a barcode on every rape kit which allows survivors to log in and get real time information about where their kit is. “There’s no reason Phoenix PD should not be testing using Track-Kit,” said state Rep. Selina Bliss, a Republican from Prescott.
As a former nurse, Bliss sponsored the bill, which would require Phoenix PD to use the Track-Kit program. City officials argue they don’t need the system because they have one of their own called CommunityConnect.
“One of the reasons we’re concerned about participating in the state system is that it provides duplicative effort and duplicative record tracking, which creates additional work,” Jody Wolf, an Assistant Director for Phoenix Police said.
She shared their concerns with the committee, saying the department is down hundreds of officers. “What we’re asking for is to provide the same access, the same information to the victims with the ability to use our chosen technology platform,” Wolf said.
But advocates said the rollout of this part of their platform keeps getting pushed back. Phoenix now says it’ll be online by the end of the month. The city is hoping for an amendment that they say would address any concerns.
In response to our questions, a spokesperson gave us a written response.
The bill next heads to the Senate for a full vote.
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