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New Orleans vs. DNA Backlogs: Fighting for Sexual Assault Justice

 Councilmember Harris Leads Efforts to Address DNA Backlog and Sexual Assault Awareness

Councilmember Lesli Harris convened a Quality-of-Life Committee meeting on April 8, 2025, to address the progress in reducing New Orleans’ DNA backlog and to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The meeting featured presentations from local agencies and sparked a discussion about the city's efforts to support survivors and provide justice for victims.
Tackling the DNA Backlog
One of the key topics of the meeting was the ongoing DNA Outsourcing Project, which aims to reduce the backlog of untested DNA kits in the city. Since late 2023, the backlog has been reduced from 4,600 cases to 2,098. Councilmember Harris emphasized the importance of this progress, stating, “Clearing this backlog has been one of my top priorities because every untested kit represents a delayed opportunity for justice.” Thanks to $3 million in funding that Harris helped secure, along with support from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the Louisiana State Police (LSP), and other partners, the project is making significant strides.
District Attorney Jason Williams spoke about the future of DNA testing in New Orleans, stating, “In the future, we’d like to expand our capabilities to process DNA for cases that are not just sexual assault, murder, and other serious cases. Let’s use it for home and car break-ins as well.” While progress is being made, the city can currently only afford to test the most severe cases, but there is hope that with continued investment and collaboration, the city's capacity to process DNA evidence will grow.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Dr. Jordan Pedalino, Sexual Assault Projects Specialist at the New Orleans Health Department, and Jocelyn Pinkerton, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program Manager at the New Orleans Health Department, gave an informational presentation on sexual assault efforts in New Orleans. As part of the efforts to raise awareness, they announced that the Superdome and Crescent City Bridge would be lit up in teal, symbolizing support for sexual assault survivors. This initiative is just one of many efforts to bring attention to this critical issue in New Orleans.
Youth and the Broader Impact of Violence
Councilmember Oliver Thomas spoke during the meeting, expressing concerns about the level of violence in New Orleans and the struggles facing youth today. He shared his thoughts on how much the environment has changed, saying, “It’s not Mom and Pop like when I grew up. Things have changed, and kids are exposed to violence, sex, and things that we didn’t deal with when we were younger.” While his remarks were off topic from the main focus of sexual assault awareness, they highlighted the broader challenges facing the city’s youth.
After quoting how children today are "looking at sexual pictures," Oliver Thomas passionately asked Dr. Jordan Pedalino and Jocelyn Pinkerton why schools are covering up their sexual assault and bullying cases. Jocelyn Pinkerton explained some of the difficulties schools face. She noted that federal funding cuts have made it harder for schools to implement necessary programs and emphasized that the city’s current processes need improvement. She said, “A lot of money to aid in this was cut due to federal funding cuts, and our current processes in New Orleans need work and are too comprehensive.”
A guest speaker from the New Orleans Health Department also shared her perspective on the challenges of discussing sexual assault in schools. She explained that it's difficult to use words like “sex” and “rape” due to restrictions, saying, “It’s hard to be allowed to say words like sex and rape in the schools.” She also pointed to executive orders making it more difficult to address sexual assault, calling for better policies and support to tackle the issue effectively.
Moving Forward
The meeting ended with a call to action: sustained momentum is essential. Councilmember Harris and other city leaders agreed that reducing the backlog and improving responses to sexual assault and other violent crimes require continued collaboration and investment.
For those who want to show their support for sexual assault survivors, a walk will be held on 4/08/2025 starting at 6 PM from Armstrong Park, continuing through the French Quarter. Additionally, the Superdome and Crescent City Bridge will be lit up in teal to honor survivors and raise awareness.

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