TBI Addresses Sexual Assault Kit Backlog
In order to address the alarming backlog of sexual assault kits in our state and to expedite the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) efforts to expand testing capacity and reduce the turnaround time for sexual assault kits, Governor Bill Lee announced last week the TBI will add 25 additional forensic lab positions.
“This is an important step in a series of steps as we continue working together to eliminate the backlog of rape kits while enhancing our support for the TBI, and law enforcement communities throughout the state,” said Speaker Cameron Sexton. “Innocence or guilt delayed due to a backlog of DNA testing only compounds the pain and suffering for everyone; I appreciate Gov. Lee, Lt. Gov. McNally, the General Assembly, and the TBI for their commitment to addressing this issue quickly.”
New forensic lab positions, including scientists, technicians and administrative support, will be added in each Grand Division in Tennessee with the Jackson, Tennessee lab adding eight positions.
“We have been searching for solutions to these challenges for several years now, and we are thankful for Governor Lee and leaders of both houses in continuing to hear our concerns and work with us toward permanent fixes,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “The commitment to fund additional positions will help us get a jump on the necessary training time to get new scientists prepared to perform their duties. This is a critical step in the process. In addition to this, we have collaborated with the Governor and leadership in both houses to prepare to do several things to immediately improve our turnaround times in our Forensic Biology units, to include: providing overtime to our current scientists and technicians to work pending cases, expanding operations to include weekends, outsourcing as many eligible kits as we can to private laboratories, and contracting with retired TBI special agent/forensic scientists to assist in training new employees to free up current scientists who are pulled from case work to train new scientists. We’re confident these steps will bring us closer to more efficient turnaround times and put us in a position, within the next year, to be closer to our goal of 8 to 12 weeks for all evidence. We also look forward to continuing the conversation with the Governor and the General Assembly to ensure the Bureau – and its workforce – meet the needs and expectations of the state and its residents.”
To apply for these new positions, please visit the Tennessee Department of Human Resources website and apply on job opening 37857. This position will be posted for three weeks through October 19, 2022.
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