New Law Ensures Sex Assault Investigations Won't Fall Between the Cracks

Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District)

Springfield, IL -- DNA evidence collected from sexual assault cases will no longer fall between the cracks thanks to new legislation sponsored by Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District).

Senate Bill 2221 introduces new safeguards for processing DNA evidence to improve tracking of sexual assault offenders. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday and takes effect immediately..

Illinois State Police will now be required to notify not only the local police department when a potential DNA match has been found, but also report the finding to the appropriate state’s attorney.

The new law was prompted by a Cook County Sheriff’s investigation when 176 rape kits dating 1986 were discovered in the basement of Village of Robbins police department. When state police notified Robbins police of a positive DNA match that occurred in the village, local police failed to follow through on an investigation. The suspect went on to commit additional crimes.

“This new law will enable prosecutors to follow up on lab reports and ensure that positive DNA matches are being investigated by local police departments," Cunningham said in a written statement. "Victims of sexual assault must have confidence that law enforcement is doing everything possible to track down violent sexual predators."

Under the new law, local police departments and state police will also be required to to take annual inventories of DNA test kits in their possession and report that to the appropriate state’s attorney’s office.The state’s attorney can then keep tabs on pending sex assault cases and see that local police departments continue to follow through on investigations.

Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.