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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2017
Governor Mary Fallin
Announces Oklahoma Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the formation of the
Oklahoma Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence to address the backlog
of sexual assault forensic evidence kits, commonly known as rape kits, in the
criminal justice system in Oklahoma. The task force will conduct an audit of
sexual assault forensic evidence kits in the state, pinpointing the number of
untested kits, and then identify possible improvements in law enforcement
training, victims’ rights and access, and the process for gathering and
analyzing rape kits.
“Sexual assault is a horrific crime, and we should do
everything we can to support the survivors,” said Fallin. “This new task force
will examine all facets of the issue of sexual assault and sexual assault
forensic evidence kits to ensure that victims are able to seek justice and
begin the healing process. I thank Senator Kay Floyd for her work on this
issue, and I look forward to seeing the results of the task force. April is
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so it is especially appropriate that we move
forward on this important subject.”
Currently, Oklahoma does not have a statewide tracking
system for rape kits nor a mandate to test all rape kits. It is estimated that
only a quarter of rape kits are tested, leaving thousands of untested kits in
police department warehouses across the state. In addition, current regulations
are not very clear regarding when and how to destroy untested kits. The
legislation that inspired this task force is Senate Bill 654.
“I am grateful for the governor’s interest in and support of
this important issue,” said Floyd. “This task
force will identify the number of untested kits in the possession of each law
enforcement agency by means of agency audits, and it will also identify funding
sources that are available to assist in financing the elimination of any
backlog of untested kits. This should reduce wait times when kits are tested. I
am thankful to state and local law enforcement agencies that have been a part
of both identifying this need and in creating the task force, as well as Reps.
Scott Biggs and John Paul Jordan for their roles in bringing this legislation
to a fruitful conclusion.”
“Joyful Heart stands with the tireless advocates who have
fought for justice in Oklahoma, and we applaud Governor Fallin for taking this
important step toward giving survivors an opportunity at long awaited justice,”
said Ilse Knecht, director of policy and advocacy, Joyful Heart Foundation. “When
the extent of a state’s backlog of untested rape kits is revealed, real reform
can begin. After law enforcement agencies account for the untested kits in
their custody, communities can begin to take steps to test those kits, hold
offenders accountable, and bring justice to sexual assault survivors whose
cases have languished, often for years—or even decades.”
“Thank
you Governor Mary Fallin for your support and leadership in turning SB 654 into
an executive order,” said Danielle Tudor, a rape survivor advocate and activist
from Bixby. “It represents the beginning of hope and healing for sexual assault
survivors in our state.”
Task Force members shall be appointed by and serve at the
pleasure of the governor, according to the governor’s executive order. Members
are:
- Lesley March, the chief of the attorney general’s
victim services unit, or her designee;
- Danielle Tudor, a survivor of sexual assault
with experience with sexual assault forensic evidence kit collection;
- Kathy Bell, a sexual assault nurse examiner;
- Andrea Swiech, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
director of forensic science services, a person designated by the director of
the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation who has expertise in the analysis of
sexual assault forensic evidence kits;
-
Jan Peery, chief executive officer of YWCA of
Oklahoma City, a person with experience seeking and applying for grants and
other private funding;
-
Phil Cotton, the executive director of the
Oklahoma Sheriff and Peace Officers Association, or his designee;
-
Bill Citty, chief of the Oklahoma City Police
Department, or his designee;
-
Chuck Jordan, chief of the Tulsa Police
Department, or his designee;
-
Ray McNair, executive director of the Oklahoma
Association of Chiefs of Police, or his designee;
- Bob Ravitz, an attorney from a public defenders
office with criminal defense experience;
-
Karla Doctor, senior director of sexual violence
prevention response, a sexual assault victims’ advocate from a community-based
organization;
- Trent Baggett, executive coordinator of the Oklahoma
District Attorneys Council, or his designee;
-
Dawn Stover, executive director of the Native
Alliance Against Violence, or her designee;
- Two nonvoting members from among the members of
the Senate, of which may not be from the same political party; and
- Two nonvoting members from among the members of
the House of Representatives, of which may not be from the same political
party.
The executive order forming this task force, 2017-11, can be
found here.
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