HOUSTON – The Houston Police Department shares 96 rape kits out of 1,147 related suspended sexual assault investigations at HPD returned with DNA matches through the Combined DNA Index System known as CODIS.
In a statement, the department tells us the findings came as part of its investigation into the incident reports suspended due to lack of personnel.
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UPDATE on incident reports involving sexual assaults using the code “Suspended: lack of personnel." pic.twitter.com/j40LcidUKp
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) April 8, 2024
“Sexual assault incident reports remain a top priority,” the statement reads. “The review team originally identified 4,017 adult sex crime incident reports.”
Officials explain as part of the review and investigation, one of the goals is to build a better workflow process between departments, properly addressing incident-related CODIS hits. A CODIS hit is when the DNA profile from a sexual assault kit matches the DNA profile from a separate criminal offense or a known offender.
Originally, of the 4,017 adult sex crime incident reports, 1,147 had sexual assault kits tested for DNA and came back with 76 CODIS hits.
Chief Troy Finner directed all Special Victim Division incidents with the code “SL,” meaning the investigation was suspended, to be sent to the Harris Forensic Science Center for review, regardless of the offense.
The department said this was done last week. Since then, 20 more CODIS hits were added, bringing the total to 96.
Investigators are following up on the cases.
Chief Finner is expected to provide an update on the suspended cases this week.
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