Tag Archives: rape

More details on the rape kit backlog results

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

HPD reports to Council about the progress of testing done on the backlogged rape kits. No false arrests by Houston police have been uncovered during an ongoing $4.4 million testing of thousands of old rape kits, but new suspects have … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More details on the rape kit backlog results

How extreme is too extreme?

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The GOP candidates for Lite Guv are doing their best to test the hypothesis that having an R next to your name is all you need to get elected statewide in Texas, regardless of your stated positions on issues. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How extreme is too extreme?

Clearing the rape kit backlog is producing results

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Very promising results. Private forensic laboratories hired to clear the Houston Police Department’s untested DNA evidence – including a decades-old rape kit backlog – have identified potential offenders in a third of the cases where sufficient DNA samples were found, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Clearing the rape kit backlog is producing results

More on the jail’s new non-discrimination policy

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the new non-discrimination policy that was implemented at the Harris County Jail. Crafted in the last 16 months with input from local and national LGBT community leaders and groups, it strictly prohibits “discrimination or harassment … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the jail’s new non-discrimination policy

No action on SB5 in the Senate

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The name of the game is running out the clock. Texas Democrats, far outnumbered by Republicans in both the House and the Senate, are nonetheless on the verge of killing one of the most restrictive abortion proposals in the nation … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Senate approves rape kit testing bill

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this week I mentioned a bill, SB1636, by Sen. Wendy Davis that aimed at getting thousands of untested rape kits analyzed. I’m pleased to say that it was passed unanimously by the Senate today, and now heads to the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Senate approves rape kit testing bill

Two forensic bills

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas has thousands of untested rape kits in it, and a bill to try to make something happen with them. The bill, by Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, would require a police department to submit a rape kit to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Prior bad acts

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about this. In what critics say could be a “seismic change” in state criminal law, the Texas Senate tentatively approved a bill that would allow jurors in sexual assault cases to hear testimony about similar allegations against … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Prior bad acts

It’s going to be a misogynistic year

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It already has been, unfortunately. Here’s Gail Collins on the recent efforts by some right wing activists who are targeting Planned Parenthood: The people trying to put Planned Parenthood out of business do not seem concerned about what would happen … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A response from TAASA to the rape kits story

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

When I posted about that recent Click2Houston story regarding the sexual assault victim who was billed by the hospital for the rape kit, I wondered if this was a screwup or standard procedure. Well, here’s a response to the story … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Paying for rape kits

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this last week, and reading it now I’m one part outraged and one part puzzled. Victims of sexual assault are getting bills, rejection letters and pushy calls from bill collectors while a state crime victims’ fund sits full … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment