Nashville Lab Clears Sexual Assault Kit Backlog

Residents of Davidson County can expect faster results on sexual assault evidence as the Metro Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory prepares to clear its backlog of untested kits by the end of the year. Officials stated that the lab now possesses the necessary personnel and financial resources to maintain this pace. This development marks a shift from a period where evidence often sat unexamined for extended durations, leaving survivors without timely answers on the status of their cases.

Amanda Sweet, the director of the MNPD Crime Lab, confirmed that all sexual assault kits older than 30 days are currently in the testing process. While the procedure is not instantaneous, the department has begun outsourcing overdue cases to a private laboratory. Sweet noted that turnaround times at the private facility may still range from several months, but the inventory of pending kits is actively decreasing. She described the change as moving cases out of storage and into active review.

The reduction in the backlog coincides with the full staffing of the Nashville lab’s Forensic Biology DNA Unit. Sweet projected that starting in 2027, the laboratory will be able to process new cases as they arrive, a capability it has not held since its opening in 2015. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has similarly reported progress in reducing its own statewide backlog of untested evidence.

The increase in workload stems partly from the opening of the Sexual Assault Center’s SAFE Clinic in September 2018. The clinic provides free forensic exams to survivors. Rachel Freeman, president of the SAC, stated that the clinic doubled the number of sexual assault exams performed in Nashville during its first year of operation. This expansion of services added to the volume of evidence arriving at the crime lab.

Staffing the lab has been a long-term challenge. Training new forensic scientists requires at least 18 months. Sweet explained that newly hired staff cannot work cases independently for a couple of years after hiring. Five new hires completed their training earlier in 2026, contributing to the current increase in capacity. Grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice and local organizations, including the Nashville Police and Public Safety Alliance, has funded the outsourcing of older kits to private labs while the internal team trains.

Metro Nashville Police Department data shows that 533 rapes were reported in Nashville so far in 2026. This figure represents a slight increase over the same period last year. In fiscal year 2026, which concluded in June, the SAFE Clinic conducted 166 exams, in addition to those performed at area hospitals such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Metro Nashville General Hospital. Freeman noted that nearly 70 percent of clients who receive exams at the SAFE Clinic subsequently report the incident to police, a rate higher than the national average of 28 to 32 percent.

The lab must still review and verify results from the private testing facilities. Despite this additional step, Freeman indicated that survivors should now receive test results within three to four months. This is a marked improvement from the previous wait time, which could reach two years. The department continues to receive hundreds of new kits annually, but Sweet said the lab is now positioned to handle the steady stream of evidence without falling behind.

Sweet credited the department for providing the resources needed to address the backlog in recent years. She stated that the crime lab is currently in a stable position to manage incoming cases as they arrive. The combination of internal staff growth and external grant funding has allowed the laboratory to move from a state of catching up to one of steady processing.