The Los Angeles Police Department has finally cleared up a backlog of DNA evidence which has existed for many years. Sadly, this was not before they suffered a new backlog from current DNA samples which are adding up at the rate of about 125 per month. The LAPD says that by the summer they should have enough staff in their lab to keep up with the current testing demand.
As a result of testing over 6,000 previously untested rape kits LAPD has arrested over 300 new suspects since the project started in 2008.
Under Penal Code Section 296, anyone in California who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony is required to give a DNA sample to law enforcement. Likewise, anyone who is arrested of an offense which, if convicted, would require registration as a sex offender must give a sample.