* This is just inexcusable…
According to the Illinois State Police, which is in charge of the labs that process evidence, the average time to process DNA evidence for all cases, including sexual assaults, is 285 days. They do not track average processing times specifically for rape kits, but for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2,079 sexual assault and abuse cases were awaiting analysis, and 586 of these had been received between 181 and 365 days earlier.
In 2010, Illinois was the first state to enact a law requiring that all rape kits be tested, and in the years since, forensic scientists have worked their way through the influx of kits at labs. In August, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation requiring hospitals to have nurses trained to collect evidence, which advocates say will improve evidence and bolster prosecutions. […]
The Illinois commission modeled its proposal on a system being piloted in Michigan. There, the state began a tracking system in one county in August and is working toward a statewide launch. Michigan law mandates a 90-day turnaround time if the lab has adequate resources and personnel. In the last year, evidence was processed in an average of 84 days. Michigan’s system costs about $700,000 per year, including technical upkeep and a 24/7 help desk to assist with any technical issues as people try to access updates. […]
Arlene Hall, commander of Illinois State Police’s Forensic Sciences Command, hopes to quicken the pace of processing, ideally to within six months. She said labs are always evaluating how to improve, including the use of robotics to automate more processing. As of June, ISP had 63 forensic scientists working on DNA testing, below the 81 needed to address new cases and reduce the backlog, according to ISP’s annual report. Hall said ISP plans to hire five more forensic scientists in December.
One of the things I discussed with JB Pritzker last week was this “hollowing out” of state government for the past decade or more. Before he runs ahead with new programs, he needs to get everybody else up and walking and eliminate or reduce programs that are soaking up precious resources.
Testing rape kits should simply not take this long. It’s an abdication of responsibility and duty.
* Meanwhile, I love that these good folks are doing this and you should definitely head over there today and buy some tasty treats, but the plight of homeless veterans and their families is yet another responsibility that the government isn’t doing enough about…
- Maestro - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:27 am:
Yes. After elections, we get so excited about future plans that we forget about the health of the important programs we already have.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:28 am:
The level of state employees needed to do the tasks assigned to them is critically low. This is true in Dept. of Human Services. Just as important, they need leadership that affirms the value of the work done for people with disabilities.
- Galena Guy - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:30 am:
And of course folks like newly elected state senator Brian Stewart will yell “law and order” every chance he gets and at the same time rail about how the taxes in the state are outrageous. Talk about hypocrisy. Of course that is SOP for Republicans
- Informed Mom - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:35 am:
Truth, but it surely is fun to dream about the future again.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:38 am:
The state has a long history of overpromising and underfunding, and Rauner ground out whatever latent capacity existed. It will take a long while to rebuild everything that needs to be rebuilt; shiny programs are lovely but maybe the budget should just stick to some infrastructure (which is also repair work for neglected programs) and existing goals.
- Yup! - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:38 am:
The sad truth is Illinois cannot adequately fund or operate its current programs. Adding new programs to the mix will only continue compounding this problem.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:40 am:
It is both wonderful and incredibly depressing that they are having a bake sale to fund such important services.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:43 am:
The shoring up of “what we have left” and assessing need, and what can be done better… the wonks who know and understand agency and policy within agencies will be critical, and tfsg assessment must be done without hindering by the political types.
See where we stand, see the costs, see the priorities, then bring in the politicals.
A budget and funding is weighing and measuring policies by dollars. Don’t take it lightly.
- Winderweezle - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 10:49 am:
ISP is at the lowest level of sworn officers since, well, modern history.
There is so much potential for this agency but few of its missions are being served well. While many regard ISP as having virtually unlimited resources and omnipotent problem solving powers, those forces have vanished into the mediocrity of just getting by.
- Chapin for Leader - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:03 am:
Then the Repubs from University towns - like Senator Rose - throw a fit if the U of I or or thier school has shortfalls
- SSL - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:09 am:
This is a brutally difficult issue. How can a state with one of the highest total tax burdens in the country have such a poor record of providing services to the tax payer?
Sadly, given the pension blight, it isn’t going to get much better for a few decades. That’s why a combination of new revenues (legalized marijuana and expanded gambling), reasonable tax increases (heavy handedness will only drive out more residents) and exceptional fiscal management are going to be critical. It’s all up to JB, Madigan and Cullerton now.
In a few years time will they be viewed as the three wise men or Moe, Larry and Curly?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:15 am:
===Then the Repubs from University towns - like Senator Rose - throw a fit if the U of I or or thier school has shortfalls===
Meh.
If it were up to Mr. Rose… UIUC would never get full funding.
See Rose, Chapin… 99th GA.
Right? Exactly right.
“Somethin’-somethin’… Chicago bad… upstate… somethin’-somethin’… I care”
- Fake Mr. Rose
Until the mea culpas start for Raunerism… and the 99th GA members show contrition… no time for their phoniness. None.
- Been There - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:16 am:
===Michigan’s system costs about $700,000 per year===
That number seems awfully low. Even if they had half as many employees than our 64 they would only be making $22,000 per year. This doesn’t seem to be apples to apples
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:51 am:
And Chapin Rose is a graduate of UIUC. Think about that.
- Chapin for Leader - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 11:58 am:
==and Senator Rose is a graduate of UIUC==
Dont I know….
The uh, Chicago bashing he had the other day made me think he hadnt changed much from his college GOP days. That said, I think it makes him a perfect Senate minority leadee.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 12:19 pm:
And let us not forget - Jason Plummer has been elected as my State Senator. He is also a graduate of UIUC and has worked in Naval Intelligence,
I expect great things from him.
- Smitty Irving - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
Curious about other’s experience, but first saw the “hollowing out” with Filan not replacing ERIs, regardless of criticality.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
Smitty, that’s when I would say it started, too.
Illini, your faith in Jason is an inspiration to us all.
I really hope JB puts some resources back into the ISP. Also hope he tries something different than Quinn and Rauner who hired career CPD officers with little knowledge of how Springfield works.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
@AA - I meant that as Snark. I think I know Jason well enough to know what to expect from him.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 3:20 pm:
@illini-yes, as was my response.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 9:57 pm:
Meanwhile, six, (6) IDOT engineers sit in a room to review a proposed multiuse path to get Phase 1 engineering approval….