VP Biden Visits Baltimore County, Wants To Reduce Untested Rape Kits
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There are hundreds of unsolved rape cases in Maryland and tens of thousands across the U.S. Now Vice President Biden is pushing to find those predators, and he has millions of dollars to help.
Rick Ritter reports the vice president pledged his support at the Maryland State Police forensic lab in Pikesville.
Officials say women are victimized by the system. Most of the time in rape cases there's no follow through on prosecution because of a backlog of kits. Now police hope to put more predators behind bars.
A massive backlog of women scarred for life. Victims--terrorized.
Now there's a desperate attempt to piece together thousands of unsolved rape cases, including here in Maryland. It's a problem that's lingered for years. A lack of funding prevents rape kits from being opened, and DNA from being tested.
It's a problem that's grabbed the attention of Vice President Joe Biden, who announced $41 million in new federal funding for the issue.
"Thousands of women right now are looking over their shoulder," he said.
There's roughly 400,000 unopened rape kits nationwide--at least 100 in Baltimore City. Offiicals say if they opened each of those kits, they could solve 50 percent of the cases.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby says the money has been a long time coming.
"In the city of Baltimore alone, we're about six months behind on a backlog. That means those individuals who usually have a pattern of predatory behavior are still walking the streets," said Mosby.
A forensic nurse at GBMC, Laura Clary, says it's been hard to promise victims they'll ever find their predators.
"When we see that patient, when they come in, we're nurses. We want to help them," she said.
A cry for help that's finally getting the attention it needs.
"It's so important that we do test this kit for them, so they can get some closure," said Clary.
The federal grants are expected to go to local and state police in October.
Statistics show one in every four women are victims of rape or stalking.
