The Bill Cosby allegations are serious, shocking and very newsworthy. As are an estimated 70,000 untested rape kits.
There are approximately 70,000 untested rape kits — filled with valuable DNA evidence — just sitting on shelves in the U.S. Apparently that’s because it’s too expensive to test them. In the world’s wealthiest country.
Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. has pledged up to $35 million to try to clear up the backlog that goes back years, sometimes decades. Let’s hope it’s the start of a welcome shift in law enforcement and prosecutorial priorities.
