Sheriff to suspend DNA testing on sexual assault

This headline and story sparked some discussion between my co-blogger and myself. We know how important DNA testing is to catching and prosecuting criminals, and stopping tests on the genetic evidence could leave a lot of victims without justice.

But then Larry raised this point: This isn't the first time that Sheriff Baca has raised his fists and voice with threats in the face of budget cuts. He often says he's going to let some criminals go free to ease jail overcrowding. While that does happen to a degree, there is almost always some money found to keep the jail cells locked tight.

Let's hope, though, that funds show up for this important testing. As Gail Abarbanel, director of the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center told the Los Angeles Times: "There are rapists walking the streets of Los Angeles, who, if they tested evidence that is sitting on shelves, could be taken off."