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Houston police address mishandling of over 4,000 shelved rape cases


The Houston Police Department is working to contact thousands of sexual assault victims whose cases were suspended due to a now-abandoned “bad policy” that allowed officers to improperly classify investigations because of staffing issues. The policy halted over 260,000 cases, including 4,000 reported rapes, impacting real victims. The former interim police chief admitted to mistakes and vowed transparency in addressing the issue.

A report details how the policy began, its impact on cases, and the current efforts to rectify the situation. Cases labeled as “Suspended-Lack of Personnel” were stored, hindering investigations, until discovery during a robbery in 2023 prompted a deep dive into the mishandling of cases. Former police chief Troy Finner retired amid the scandal, acknowledging his failure to address the issue.

The department has assigned a special team to review and prioritize the 4,017 suspended sexual assault cases, reaching out to victims through various means. While some cases have been resolved, many remain for investigation. The new police chief, J. Noe Diaz, aims to address the backlog of cases and ensure accountability moving forward.

However, the prioritization of these cases has led to a lack of focus on nonviolent crimes, impacting resources. Despite this, no disciplinary action has been taken against those who used the improper classification code. The department is committed to addressing the past mistakes and ensuring justice for the victims of sexual assault.

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www.usatoday.com

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