San Francisco police used old rape-kit DNA to arrest woman in property crime case, says District Attorney

The city police department utilised DNA from a woman’s years-old rape kit to arrest her as a suspect in a current property crime, according to San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

According to KTVU, Boudin announced on Monday that he had found that the police crime lab had used a database containing DNA profiles from sexual assault victims, and that the alleged practise may dissuade victims from coming forward.

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“I am disturbed that victims who have the courage to undergo an invasive examination to help identify their perpetrators are being treated like criminals rather than supported as crime victims,” in a statement to SFGATE, Boudin claimed.

According to KTVU, attorney Mary Alexander, who specialises in sexual assault cases, the claimed practise could “have a chilling effect on women coming forward.”

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“It is potentially an illegal search and seizure, and using her DNA in an improper manner,” Alexander told the station. “So I think it’s of grave concern that this kind of thing is happening.”

In a statement to the media, Police Chief Bill Scott said he’s ordered an investigation into the accusations and will put an end to the practise if they’re true.

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“We must never create disincentives for crime victims to cooperate with police, and if it’s true that DNA collected from a rape or sexual assault victim has been used by SFPD to identify and apprehend that person as a suspect in another crime, I’m committed to ending the practice,” Scott said.