Attorney General Eric Schmitt says counting of untested rape kits in the state is nearly complete.

Schmitt said Wednesday that 95.6% of law enforcement agencies and 98.5% of hospitals and Veterans Affairs medical facilities have completed their inventory of sexual assault evidence kits.

Former Attorney General Josh Hawley began an audit of the backlog in 2017 after the Columbia Missourian reported Missouri had never done a statewide review of untested rape kits.

Schmitt began a SAFE Kits Initiative in February and appointed Judge M. Keithley Williams to lead the effort to eliminate the backlog of sexual assault kits.

The counting project received funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Rape kits contain DNA samples and other evidence from medical procedures conducted immediately after an attack.

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