Governor Malloy pledged to form a statewide, multidisciplinary working group to address Connecticut’s backlog of 879 sexual assault evidence collection kits.
On July 22, Governor Malloy, accompanied by Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, State Representative Roberta Willis, State’s Attorney Maureen Platt, advocates and representatives from state government and law enforcement, gathered at CONNSACS to sign PA 15-207 into law and to announce formation of a new working group to address the reasons why 879 sexual assault evidence collection kits have not been sent to the crime lab for testing. PA 15-207 sets clear time frames for kits to be transferred to the state Crime Lab and tested, which addresses how kits should be handled going forward. The working group will tackle the issue of the backlogged kits; why they were backlogged and how the criminal justice system in Connecticut can build a more victim-centered, compassionate response to victims and survivors of sexual assault.