The Colorado Bureau of Investigation faces a staggering backlog of over 500 days for rape kit processing, raising serious concerns.
Denver: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is taking over 500 days to process rape kits. That’s nearly six times longer than their goal. This backlog is a big deal.
It all got worse after a scandal involving Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a lab analyst who messed with over 1,000 DNA tests. Now, they’re having to retest a lot of cases.
Before this scandal, the wait was already bad at 275 days. Now, it’s up to 517 days. This was brought up during a recent hearing where a survivor shared her story of waiting over 400 days for results.
Miranda Spencer, a 34-year-old from Denver, said she hasn’t felt safe in her own home for over 400 days. She described it as a nightmare, worrying not just for herself but for her young daughter too.
In late 2023, she was told it would take at least 10 months for her exam to be processed. She’s been calling the detective for updates, but it’s all in the hands of the CBI lab.
During the hearing, lawmakers were focused on crime reduction, but Spencer’s testimony shifted the attention to this serious issue. Sen. Julie Gonzales called it “unconscionable” that the CBI didn’t address the backlog directly.
She emphasized that it’s hard to claim Colorado is becoming one of the safest states when rape kits are taking so long to process. The CBI director, Chris Schaefer, mentioned that the fastest he’s seen a kit processed is three days, and that’s with round-the-clock work.
Hilkey, the safety department head, said they can’t fix this overnight. It takes time to train new analysts and process the kits. They’re looking into fast-tracking some cases, but it’s still a mess.
Rep. Jenny Willford, who was also a victim, is pushing for legislation to tackle this issue. She said waiting for answers feels like her life is on hold, and it’s unacceptable.
They pulled 15 scientists from training to review Woods’ cases, which only added to the backlog. Now, they’re trying to hire more scientists to help clear the mess.
Officials are exploring options to get back to the 90-day standard for processing. They want to serve victims better and respect the seriousness of these crimes.
Rep. Matt Soper expressed shock at the backlog, saying it’s a top priority for Colorado. He’s also planning to introduce a bill to ensure everyone affected is notified when there’s a data issue.
Spencer feels it’s crucial to speak out about the delays. She believes it’s not just a bureaucratic issue; it’s about real people waiting for justice. She wants to see change for all survivors.
“It’s a systemic issue in how victims are treated,” she said. “It’s inhumane.”
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