Feb. 15, 4:15 p.m.: San Francisco District Legal professional Chesa Boudin dropped felony property prices filed in opposition to a girl Tuesday after decrying San Francisco police’s alleged observe of utilizing DNA from rape victims throughout searches for legal suspects.
“It’s my dedication going ahead to by no means use DNA obtained on this illegal means,” Boudin mentioned throughout a briefing. “Our conversations with the management at SFPD Crime Lab recommend that it is a routine observe not solely in San Francisco however at different crime labs throughout the state.”
A spokesperson for Boudin’s workplace declined to remark additional on the particulars of the case to SFGATE in an effort to guard the lady’s privateness.
However because the revelation continues to make nationwide headlines, San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen and California state Sen. Scott Wiener are calling for state and metropolis bans on the observe.
Feb. 14, 4:45 p.m.: The San Francisco District Legal professional’s Workplace has come ahead with allegations that the San Francisco Police Division used a girl’s DNA beforehand obtained from a rape equipment to arrest her for a property crime.
San Francisco District Legal professional Chesa Boudin introduced the bombshell throughout a Monday press convention, as first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle. (SFGATE and The Chronicle are each owned by Hearst however function independently of one another.)
Boudin alleges that he was knowledgeable of this police observe final week, The Chronicle stories.
If true, Boudin mentioned, the revelation would additional discourage survivors of rape and sexual assault in San Francisco from coming ahead. SFPD has confronted scrutiny previously associated to its mishandling of sexual assault circumstances. A 2014 KGO investigation discovered tons of of untested rape kits spanning almost a decade, and in 2019, a girl petitioned the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to take up a case in opposition to the Police Division for its mishandling of her rape.
“I’m disturbed that victims who’ve the braveness to bear an invasive examination to assist establish their perpetrators are being handled like criminals somewhat than supported as crime victims,” Boudin mentioned in a press release to SFGATE. “We should always encourage survivors to return ahead — not acquire proof to make use of in opposition to them sooner or later. This observe treats victims like proof, not human beings. That is legally and ethically unsuitable. My workplace is demanding that this observe finish instantly, and is encouraging native and state legislators to introduce laws to finish this observe in California. We stay dedicated to doing all the pieces in our energy to assist survivors of sexual violence.”
San Francisco Police Chief Invoice Scott declined to verify the allegations in a press release, saying that “our present DNA assortment insurance policies have been legally vetted and conform with state and nationwide forensic requirements.”
“We must not ever create disincentives for crime victims to cooperate with police, and if it is true that DNA collected from a rape or sexual assault sufferer has been utilized by SFPD to establish and apprehend that individual as a suspect in one other crime, I am dedicated to ending the observe,” he mentioned in a press release.
The allegation is more likely to intensify ongoing tensions between San Francisco police and the D.A.’s Workplace. Earlier this month, Scott introduced that the Police Division would not cooperate with Boudin’s workplace to independently examine police misconduct after alleging that the workplace violated the memorandum by withholding data. A D.A.’s Workplace spokesperson denied the claims.
California Legal professional Common Rob Bonta, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Francisco Metropolis Legal professional David Chiu introduced earlier Monday that they’d intervene to make sure an settlement between the 2 workplaces.
Bay Metropolis Information Service contributed to this report.
