The Effects of Legislation Mandating DNA Testing in Sexual Assault Cases: Results in Texas. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Robert C.; Auchter, Bernard; Wells, William; Camp, Torie; Howley, Susan
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 26:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 417
• Page End: 437
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: sexual assault -- DNA backlog -- sexual assault in Texas -- state legislation on DNA testing -- sexual assault kit testing -- sexual assault kit backlog; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801219838330
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Many cities and states have taken steps to identify and process all untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). Texas was one of the first states to enact such legislation—SB 1636—which created a time line for a statewide audit and mandatory testing of SAKs. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the effects of SB 1636 at both state and local levels. The study did not detect any effect of SB 1636 on reporting, arrests, or convictions. The legislation did have a significant effect on criminal justice workloads, particularly crime laboratories.