Audio Presentation: “I’ve Lived With It Every Day of My Life.”
For decades in Memphis, sexual assault victims were left in the dark about what happened to the cases they reported to police.
Part 3: Special Investigative Unit Chases Predators
Massive remedial effort seeks justice for victims in neglected and overlooked rape cases
Part 2 Extra: MPD Defends ‘Bid System’ Said to Put Unqualified Officers in Sex Crimes Unit
Officials say they’ve made improvements to meet the needs of rape victims in Memphis. However, critics say a labor union contract often keeps MPD from staffing the best-qualified detectives.
Part 2 Extra: MPD’s Explanation
A police perspective on the testing of rape kits
Part 2 Extra: How Memphis Failed
A critic’s perspective of MPD’s historical failure to test rape kits
Part 2: After Decades of Waiting for Justice, Memphis Victims Say They’ve Been ‘Raped Twice’
Aging victims seek justice and the release of records to prove MPD neglected rape investigations
What backlog?
Neglected Testing
Contrary to the popular narrative, untested rape kits are not the problem. They are just one symptom of larger problems with policing rape.
Neglected Data
Police departments have a strong incentive to manipulate crime data because lower crime rates make public officials look more successful.