Arkansas State Crime Lab making improvements on rape kit turnaround time; headed in the right direction for victims

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pre-budget meeting for state lawmakers Friday shed light on a serious issue in Arkansas that officials said is now headed in the right direction.

For years now, rape and sexual assault kits in the state have been behind schedule for examination, but that turnaround time is lowering significantly.

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The rape and sexual assault kit turnaround time this time last year was about eight months. That is eight months of those committing these crimes not being arrested, and victims waiting for answers, officials said.

However, officials with the state crime lab have reported there is now a 90-day turnaround time and noted the time will keep going down.

Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) and a handful of other lawmakers pressed the state crime lab director and other officials about this turnaround time in the meeting Friday. They all acknowledged it’s a relief to know improvements are being made and Arkansas is ahead of nearly every other state in the nation now.

State Crime Lab Director Ted Brown said the problem is needing more staff and a new crime lab, which could be up as soon as 2025.

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Hester told KARK 4 News the focus also needs to be on upping the pay for those employees so we can recruit more people and get these kits returned at an even faster rate.

“Ninety days is something we can celebrate but say the work is not done, but we are headed in the right direction,” Hester said.

A spokesperson for Arkansas Public Safety said the goal is to have a turnaround rate under 60 days by 2025.

State Crime Lab officials also pointed out that it takes a year to train the DNA analysts who work on the rape kits, so while they need more employees, it’s also not a quick process to get them on board and ready to start helping out with this time issue.

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The legislature’s fiscal session, where they’ll actually approve budgets, is next month. Hester said the state has set aside more than $100 million to focus on these issues and make improvements to the state crime lab.

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