San Francisco's police chief says he's investigating claims by the district attorney that DNA collected from rape victims is being used to help identify them as possible crime suspects.
that he's learned the police crime lab has tried to identify suspects through a database that includes DNA profiles from sex-assault victims. "I think that it is an improper use. I think that it’s going to have a chilling effect on women coming forward," said attorney Mary Alexander, who specializes in sexual assault cases at Bay Area firm Mary Alexander & Associates.
Alexander, agrees, saying the San Francisco Police Department’s actions could be a violation of the woman’s civil rights and California’s Victims' Bill of Rights Act. "Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can undergo," said California State Senator. "Coming forward after a sexual assault to provide a rape kit can be re-traumatizing. Too many people decide not to take that step, given the trauma."
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