how is this possible?

http://cbs2.com/local/Rape.Kits.LAPD.2.844755.html

Over 7,000 rape kits unanalyzed by detectives in LA county.

"The California Sexual Assault Victims' DNA Bill of Rights requires law enforcement agencies to inform victims if the evidence in their rape kits is not processed within two years of the crime. The audit found that 5,694 of the unopened kits are more than two years old, and none of those victims have been notified."

And even more reprehensible:

"Of the backlogged cases, 217 have exceeded the 10-year statute of
limitations."

I have been frothing at the mouth of late over the news reports on how CEOs and upper management of failing financial institutions have walked away with 40+ million dollar golden parachute payouts and it seems no one will do a damn thing about it. They are being questioned by the Senate (whoopdedo!) but no other action to punish their blatant use of power to feed their own greedy guts is being reported. I am appalled.

But this current report on how the LAPD has the funds to process rape kits for victims of violent crimes but is not doing it makes my head spin. I sometimes wish the media wouldn't bother reporting these travesties. I know, that's wishing for blissful ignorance and akin to sticking my head in the ground. But merely exposing a grave injustice is not fixing it and what can we, common citizens, do NOW to demand these kits are processed? - certainly the ones that are less than two years old and haven't yet passed the statute of limitations!

Who is culpable and who will step up to ensure that these tests are processed in a timely manner? And if not, who the hell goes to jail for impeding the rights of citizens who've had crimes committed against them for fair investigation and prosecution of those crimes?

Someone(s) should be held accountable and punished for this, in my opinion. At the very least, jobs should be lost, employees replaced. It's all fine and dandy that they are now hiring additional employees in January '09 to handle this backlog, and it's just super-duper that the focus is now on fixing the problem, but what about all those rape victims (5,694 to be exact) whose kits have sat there for over two years who may never see their perpetrators brought to justice?

Oh, and I found this from June: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-tofte30-2008jun30,0,7035497.story

It was posted in the Opinion section of LA Times. This problem has been known for at least six months (although most assuredly longer), but clearly no one is rushing to fix it.

Sickening.

Maybe I should make like an ostrich...