SURVIVORS SPEAK OUT AT TOWN HALL ON COLORADO’S SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE KIT BACKLOG
The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) in partnership with Senator Mike Weissman, Representative Jenny Willford, and Representative Lorena Garcia, will host a town hall meeting today, Monday, March 3, 2025, at 11:30 AM, to address the devastating Colorado Bureau of Investigations’ (CBI) DNA and sexual assault evidence kit backlog. More than 100 survivors, elected officials, advocates, and community members will gather in the Capitol in the Old Supreme Court Chambers and on Zoom to highlight the human impact of the backlog and examine the systemic issues contributing to it.
“I want other survivors to know that they’re not alone and that I understand exactly all of the things that they’re feeling. It’s not just me, it’s not just my story,” said Miranda Spencer, one of the sexual assault survivors impacted by the backlog. ”There is power in numbers, and I know if the other survivors feel anything like I do, they won’t stand for the idea of anyone else ever having to go through what we have.”
“Currently, survivors in Colorado are waiting an average of 529 days for answers and their opportunity to pursue justice and accountability,” said Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “We have a responsibility to not only clear the backlog but ensure we put policies and systems in place to never have this happen again.”
“I am personally affected by this backlog. I know how excruciating it is to wait over a year for your kit to be processed,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This egregious and unacceptable delay is not only destructive to survivors’ healing but to the safety of all Coloradans.”
Colorado first identified a sexual assault evidence kit backlog in 2013 and passed House Bill 1020, which required all law enforcement agencies to report the number of untested sexual assault evidence kits in their possession to the CBI and ordered the CBI to propose a plan for analyzing kits in the backlog. The CBI announced that the backlog had been cleared in 2016. The current backlog began building up in 2023 following staffing issues and the investigation into misconduct by a former CBI Forensic Laboratory Scientist.
“This is horrific. At least 1,407 survivors and their cases are directly impacted,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “This is a failure of the justice system, and survivors deserve better.”
“Today, survivors are making their voices heard and demanding change,” said Elizabeth Newman, CCASA’s Public Policy Director. “We call on the state to listen to them, support them, and ensure this never happens again.”
The town hall will include a presentation on the history and status of the backlog by the CBI, followed by questions and discussion on the impact of the current backlog and solutions to improve the response to sexual violence.
About CCASA: CCASA provides leadership, advocacy, and support to address and prevent sexual violence. https://www.ccasa.org/