It took Florida three years to clear a backlog of unanalyzed sex assault evidence collection kits. Now survivors are hoping the governor signs a bill into law.
Updated: 10:37 PM EDT Apr 26, 2021 A bill that would create a statewide tracking system for sexual assault kits, commonly known as rape kits, will now become a law.Gail s Law passed in Florida’s senate Monday afternoon.The law is named after Gail Gardner of Orange County who was attacked and raped in her home in 1988. In 2015, WESH 2 Investigates revealed there were more than a thousand untested kits in Central Florida police evidence lockers.Florida cleared that backlog of untested kits but it wasn t until last November that Gardner learned her alleged attacker had been identified and was in prison.The bill will give survivors the legal right to know where their kits are from the lab to police headquarters.Under Gail s Law, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would provide sexual assault survivors tracking information for their kits and would give the state up to 180 days to notify survivors if there are any results.The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence will
Florida bill to create tracking system for sexual assault kits heading to state Senate Share Updated: 11:04 PM EDT Apr 19, 2021
Florida bill to create tracking system for sexual assault kits heading to state Senate Share Updated: 11:04 PM EDT Apr 19, 2021
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Show Transcript [APPLAUSE] GAIL: I’M GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN, WESH 2 NEWS. STEWART: CHIEF BROADWAY ALSO SERVED ON A FLORIDA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH CREATED A USE OF FORCE POLICY. IT’S AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE AND HE SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE POLICIES ARE CURRENTLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT’S POLICES AND PROCEDURES. MEREDITH: A BILL TO CREATE A STATEWIDE TRACKING SYSTEM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS HAS CLEARED ANOTHER HURDLE. TODAY, GAIL’S LAW UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TODAY AND IS NOW READY TO BE HEARD BY THE FULL SENATE. THE BILL PREVIOUSLY PASSED THE FULL HOUSE 118-0. GAIL’S LAW IS NAMED AFTER GAI GARDNER OF ORAN
Florida House passes âGailâs Lawâ to establish rape kit database Share Updated: 11:58 PM EDT Apr 16, 2021 Share Updated: 11:58 PM EDT Apr 16, 2021
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Show Transcript HOUSE BILL 673 GAILâS LAW IS NAMED FOR GAIL GARDNER SHEâS BEEN TO EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE MEETING AND SHEâS SITTING UP IN THE EAST GALLERY. GAIL: AN ARMED INTRUDER BROKE INTO GAIL GARDNERâS WASHINGTON SHORES HOME AND RAPED HER AT KNIFEPOINT IN 1988. SHE WAS 41, AND HER TERRIFIED NINE-YEAR-OLD SON WAS THERE, TO IT WAS JUST HORRIFIC. IâM JUST WAITING TO THE TO POINT WHERE I CAN TELL MY STORY TO THE JUDGE. GAIL: SHE CALLED ORLANDO POLICE AND CONSENTED TO A FORENSIC EXAMINATION. HER RAPE KIT SAT ON THE SHELF FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS UNTESTED THEN IN 2019, POLICE TOLD GAIL FDLE DID HAVE DNA RESULTS. IT TURNS OUT THEY JUST RECENTLY TESTED HER KIT, AND THAT HER ATTACKER IS A SERIAL RAPIST LINK TO 15 OTHER SEXUAL ASSAULTS, AND FOR MORE TH