Board of County Commissioners Office of Community Advocacy Commission for Women ILL NW Ist Street + Suite 1034 Miami, Florida 33128-1994 ‘T 305-375-4967 F 305-375-5715 winw.miamidade.gov/advocacy/women-board-home.asp Office of the Chair EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Moa Zepaa,pno. September 14, 2015 Craipeson ‘Sharon Keenck-osor Honorable Chairman and Members ‘3 VieChipesen ‘iwaraieen Board of County Commissioners ‘2nd Vie Chaipeson Miami-Dade County NucsForase 11] NW First Street, Suite 220 Menter at Lane lentimowseee, Miami, FL 33128 Memb atLage ‘comussion ueusers Dear Commissioner Edmonson: Cora Adkins Marie Soewettebi Last week on September 9", Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that weomime= there were thousands of untested rape kits throughout Florida. Attomey General Bondi Nomen apuuttigsaa also announced that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), in FanotscaMens conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, is currently doing a statewide Sevenytson assessment to determine exactly how many rape kits across the state remain Strate unprocessed. After the assessment, the Attomey General will make legislative LinsRcbesor recommendations and possibly suggest statewide standards. asa Sense Pry Sonim The existence of untested rape kits has made national news for the past several years, Durazer and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women is especially concerned because this is the first time that this issue has been identified as a major problem in Florida. ec egrg cat The enclosed newspaper articles and press release from the Attorney General provide GeoeM ODenet more detailed information, and The Miami Herald editorial specifically mentions the camenfiasteesn — Miami-Dade Police Department. Another of the enclosed articles states that Miami- Joan Sanvi_ Dade is getting $1,968,246 from the Manhattan District Attorney to test 2,900 rape Resteeaae kts, Does this mean that Miami-Dade has 2,900 backlogged, untested kits? Maga. Abat Marte!83té" In May 2014, members of the Commission for Women toured the Miami-Dade Police veri sie, Crime lab and met with the DNA analysts. It was a fascinating visit and the staff could ‘eynsees not have been more informative and helpful. We asked about rape kits and were assured \yontesh that there was no backlog and that they were analyzed in a timely manner. While we Va seiet have the utmost confidence in the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Attorney YaeaXey General's announcement is concerning nonetheless because there is always the samssSeet_ possibilty that some of the rape Kits are falling through the cracks because of connie insufficient resources. ca Fung ‘oratsie — The Commission for Women believes that it would be helpful if the Miami-Dade Police evaGene Department could address this matter by explaining its procedures and timeline for eames, analyzing rape kits. Perhaps a presentation by the Miami-Dade Police ‘nae Wikor eine Hon Else Bom Lara Mei, Progam OferBoard of County Commissioners Office of Community Advocacy Commission for Women NW Ist Street * Suite 1034 Miami, Florida 33128-1994 T 305-375-4967 F 305-375-5715 \www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/women-board-home.asp ut Office of the Chair exECUTIVE comaTTEE MeazZeot.™0. Board of County Commissioners meeting would be appropriate to clarify the issue Caipeson staonkerditnens and reassure our residents that solving sex crimes is a priority. {aie Chapeon maylittin Moreover on September 1, 2015, the Board of County Commissioners passed an i Cainesen ordinance implemeting a local version of the Convention on the Elimination of all Nestesige Forms of Disccrimiation Against Women (CEDAW), the international women’s rights LesnbhneresP.0. treaty. Under the ordinance, the County adopted the spirit of equality underlying the Nenberattese — CEDAW treaty. Since women are overwhelmingly the victims of rape and sexual commssionweusers assault, Miami-Dade County should resolve this issue of untested rape kits to ensure Clea Adis that enough resources are being allocated to fight this type of crime and to demonstrate NoteSceveteD that it takes crimes against women seriously. Tara Legon Nene tapatitsa Thank you for your kind consideration of this mater. rapes Mees Bevery Non Erelne Pere KeRatery ins Rosson Ware arom 1LAne fy Phys San Sirens tarevewson Mara Zapata ‘ona Zeno Sincerely, Chairwoman PAST CHARPERSONS . eit Reease Miami-Dade County Commission for Women Gate M ODaret camen Eas-gerser__¢.¢. Chairman and Members, Board of County ‘Commissioners any Honorable Carlos Gimenez, Mayor, Miami-Dade County ‘Maria E. Roberts: Russell Benford, Deputy Mayor, Miami-Dade County Noga Aad JD, Patterson, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department Varta Babn oa ag len ay Stan lm Shea yates cary tzen ‘worms Bre ae ty ns Setet Dare Le esto Kee Ca Furry Nowa Leia ania Groine ‘ory Yates ‘Marvell Colby ‘ane Mit Noe Birt Ho, ie Boo Lava Nona, Program Ofer