Thousands of untested sexual assault kits finally processed in WA

Washington state has effectively eliminated its extensive backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits.

Officials announced Thursday that more than 10,000 backlogged kits have now been cleared from evidence rooms across the state and submitted for testing.

Roughly 99% of those kits have already been tested, according to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

Remaining kits have been sent to labs and are currently being tested.

The Washington State Patrol is still reviewing about 1,000 tested kits, according to the Attorney General’s office.

That process should be completed by the end of the year.

The backlog of sexual assault kits has been a significant issue in Washington, and across the country, for years.