Bravo8 said:
You seem to bank everything on discrimination. Your few posts indicate to me that you are the type that involves race into every equation. It's not always about race, gender, etc. Not everyone is out to get you.
If the police have failed to investigate those rapes, there is most likely one of three reasons:
1. As IAAL said, the money doesn't exist.
2. There is not enough evidence to proceed, and it owuld be a waste of money and time.
3. They are lazy.
Or maybe a combination of the three. I doubt it has anything to do with these crimes being committed against women as opposed to men. You are trying to create an atmosphere of discriminaion where one doesn't exist. You remind me of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton (you support those racists don't you?)
The police have no legal obligation to investigate a crime. They do have to answer to the public though. For instance, I work for the residents of my township. If they are unhappy, they go to my superiors, the township supervisors (or borough/city council, mayor, etc....whom ever is in charge of the operation of the municipality). They will, if they feel the complaint is warranted, approach my Chief. My Chief, being my immediate supervisor, will rectify the problem.
So as you see, the police are accountable. Maybe not on a legal ground, but much the same way you are if you don't do your job correctly.
Speaking of personal attacts....
First let me find u some money.
The untested rape kids are from stranger rapes with no relationshiip with the victim. These are the serial rapists.
Now 20/20 helped with some of the expenses to test 50 of the 2,600 untested rape kits stored in the basement of the Baltimore police stations. Of the 50 tested they got DNA matches on 4 (see serial). One of these crimes was a rape/murder.
Let us assume the same percentage of DNA hits is maintained with additional testing. So for ever 100 kits tested there is 8 perpetrators identified. Of these perpertrators identified...all are serial rapists. We know this because thier DNA profile is in the system.
OK now these rape kits have not been tested so these men continue to rape...say over the next 2 years there is an additional 4 rapes reported to the police. This averages 1/4 reported rape per perpetrator per year...although i have to say this is a complete guess i don't think the figure is outragiously high.
The police come and investigate these 4 rapes in doing so they use 100 hr of police time. The police officers average wage is say $50 K a yr so that his how much money? $2500 maybe...but wait the city also pays thier benefits, social security, etc..the real cost to the city is $7500 if they use only 25 hrs for each reported rape.
Recently the city charged my mother $340 for ambulance ride to hospital....so let us add on $340 times 4 for $1360. The emergency room visit costs $300 including several tests and collection of the rape kit...cost of the purchase of the rape kit, $1200. So far we have over $10,000 in expenses over a 2 yr period of time. This is direct cost to the city..enough to pay for the testing of 20 rape kits.
the city pays to store the untested rape kits too...that takes time and money.
Now if i were to mention the Victims Compensation Act...add in lost wages, couciling costs, the advocate at the hospital...all for the victim and paid for with our tax dollars.
But wait...the victims worked and were productive citizens...loss of productivity sould be included. The husband, mother, kids etc. were all effected by the rape by a man that could have been in jail.
Believe me if i wanted to i could easily add up enough money to cover the testing of the rape kits. So let us drop money out of the picture finally.
Not enough evidence to proceed? what are u talking about...there is a rape kit. Untill that rape kit is processed there is something to porceed on isn't there?
They are lazy. Probibly.
They are prejudiced...probibly.
The problem with them having to answer to the public is that for the most part we just don't know what they are doing. Until 20/20 did the story i know i had no idea that the police were not testing rape kits. I would love to see more accountibility.
Personally, i think not testing these kits in indefensible. The police need to be policed and apparantly internally doesn't work in small departments.