| Getty Images Note: This story involves sexual abuse, which could be triggering to some readers. The Story The San Francisco PoliceDepartment is under scrutiny. What’s this about?Rape kits. They’re used to preserve possible DNA evidence of alleged rapists to identify them. Across the US, there’s been a backlog, leaving many kits unanalyzed. But that’s not why SF is under a microscope. Go on.This week, it came out that the police department hasn’t just been saving DNA samples from the assailants…it was also storing the samples of victims. For years. And keeping those samples to test them against a database of other crimes. Whoa.Exactly. SF’s district attorneyhasdropped property crime charges against a woman whose DNA was collected from a 2016 rape kit…even though she was the victim, not the assailant. The DA says the practice could violate her — and other victims’ — constitutional rights. Explain. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the gov.California’s Victims’ Bill of Rightsis also supposed to provide survivors with privacy and dignity. What’s SF police saying? That theDNA collection policy was legal under the country’s forensic standards. But the police chief acknowledged that it can disincentivize people from coming forward. And has ordered a review of the policy. What now? It is unclear how many police departments do this. But the DA, who’s facing a recall election, is pushing for legislation to end the practice. theSkimm It’s no secret that women have faced hurdles when it comes to speaking out against their abusers.Amid a justice systemwhere convictions in sexual assault cases are still rare, women could now face repercussions for coming forward in the first place. PS: If you need this, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline here or by calling 1-800-656-HOPE. | 