The Arkansas State Crime Lab is receiving $97,000 from Manhattan’s District Attorney to test 1,500 rape kits housed by law enforcement agencies statewide.
Kermit Channell, director of the lab, said the funds will allow for a review of evidence in kits from investigations dropped by law enforcement.
“It allows us to capture a snapshot of what's going on in Arkansas to make sure we don't have a problem with kits that are in law enforcement that haven't been submitted to us, or kits that are in hospitals that haven't been picked up by law enforcement,” he said.
ACT 1168 from the 2015 legislative session called for a statewide assessment. According to Channell, the kits being tested now were identified in a preliminary assessment.
