Only 9% of Sex Assault Evidence Kits on Maui Tested

Maui sex assault kit inventory. Maui Now graphic.

The state Attorney General released a report to the state legislature on Thursday that includes a statewide inventory of sex assault evidence collection kits.

The report also includes a state plan for how to move forward with untested kits, and recommendations for legislative action.

According to the document only 15 of the 166 kits filed on Maui, or 9%, were tested since the department began using the kits in 1999.

That’s the lowest percentage in the state; with Kauaʻi bringing in the best rate at 35%.

The Department of the Attorney General previously announced that it was awarded a $2 million National competitive grant, which should further assist with the efforts to track sexual assault kits.

A summary of the inventory of sexual assault kits is as follows:  (All include an end date of June 30, 2016)

Honolulu Police Department (start date 1992)
Total No. of Kits = 1512
Total No. of Kits Tested = 137
Total No. of Untested Kits = 1375

Kauaʻi Police Department (start date 2001)
Total No. of Kits = 209
Total No. of Kits Tested = 74
Total No. of Untested Kits = 135

Hawaiʻi Police Department (start date 2001)
Total No. of Kits = 353
Total No. of Kits Tested = 63
Total No. of Untested Kits = 290

Maui Police Department (start date 199)
Total No. of Kits = 166
Total No. of Kits Tested =15
Total No. of Untested Kits = 151

Note: Maui Police Department reported that two kits were out for testing and six kits were waiting to be sent out for testing. Hawaii Police Department reported that six untested kits were out for testing and 16 kits were waiting to be sent out for testing.

Statewide, there are 1951 untested kits out of the 2240 kits.  The total number of tested kits statewide is 289.

Attorney General Doug Chin said, “We will be using this information to better understand the issues that resulted in some kits being untested, and to ensure that all kits that should be tested are tested.”