Agencies With Most Untested Rape Kits Defend Practices

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Three law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are defending themselves after a statewide report found they have the most untested rape kits in the state.

The Anoka County Sheriff's Office and city police in Duluth and St. Cloud say they are following the law by saving evidence while testing only kits that have value in a criminal case. The kits also aren't tested when a known rape suspect admits to sex, or when a victim opts not to press charges.

The state Legislature had directed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to find out the number of unprocessed kits at agencies, and why they weren't tested for DNA.

Reports say there's no state law dictating which evidence should be tested, and that it's left up to the discretion of each department.