Fort Worth Police Department Makes Strides in Reducing Sexual Assault Kit Backlog, Enhancing Victim Communication

In a recent briefing during a City of Fort Worth work session, Police Chief Neil Noakes gave an update on the ongoing efforts to tackle the backlog of sexual assault kits at the Fort Worth Police Department’s Crime Lab. As highlighted in the session, there’s been a notable decrease in overdue cases, demonstrating the department’s commitment to resolving this issue.

As reported on Monday, based on information provided by the City of Fort Worth, the number of overdue cases currently stands at 708, a decrease from the 898 cases logged on Oct. 11. Due to technical limitations, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office is set to assist with only new cases, with an ongoing evaluation of a contract between the City and the TCME.

An ambitious measure involves 30 detectives who have been diligently making phone calls to each victim affected by the backlog, providing them with much-needed updates. According to Chief Noakes, for cases involving unknown suspects, the intent was that these phone calls would be finalized today. Furthermore, a protocol change ensures victims are now contacted regarding any delay in testing, with the contacting detective recording this in the case notes, a policy update already taken into effect.

In an initiative for transparency and oversight, the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor (OPOM) has been roped into monitoring the lab’s progress, a move intended for added scrutiny. Efforts to increase personnel include public job postings for forensic scientists across FWPD’s social media and LinkedIn. The department has also promised to report on this progress to both the City Manager’s Office and the City Council.

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