The Truth About Wisconsin’s Rape Kit Backlog
Claims about Supreme Court Candidate, Brad Schimel’s handling of untested rape kits have resurfaced in political debates, with critics attempting to paint him as part of the problem rather than the solution. However, the facts tell a different story.
When Schimel took office as Wisconsin Attorney General in 2015, a massive backlog of untested sexual assault kits had accumulated over multiple years—long before his administration. The backlog was created under previous Democratic leadership, and Schimel was the one who took the necessary steps to fix it.
Schimel’s office secured federal funding, developed a coordinated approach with law enforcement, and oversaw the testing of approximately 4,000 previously unprocessed kits. This effort not only helped identify criminals but also brought long-overdue justice and closure to victims. By September 2018, Brad Schimel, then Attorney General, successfully tested every rape kit.
Contrary to attacks from political opponents, Schimel didn’t work alone—he collaborated with then-Judge Jill Karofsky, now a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, to implement these changes. The same critics who now attack Schimel ignore the fact that Karofsky played a role in the same initiatives.
Under AG Josh Kaul, Crime Lab Testing Has Dropped
While Schimel made significant progress in clearing Wisconsin’s backlog, his successor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, has overseen a sharp decline in crime lab efficiency. A 2022 analysis of Wisconsin Department of Justice reports revealed that under Kaul, the state crime lab is testing significantly fewer items than it did under Schimel—and it’s taking longer to process key forensic evidence, including DNA samples.
Here’s what the data shows:
- In 2018, Schimel’s last year in office, the state crime lab handled 12,680 cases.
- In 2021, under Kaul, that number plummeted to 9,297—a drop of nearly 31%.
- In six out of ten forensic categories, the crime lab had slower turnaround times under Kaul than under Schimel.
- DNA analysis, one of the most critical areas of forensic investigation, more than doubled in median processing time, going from 50 days in 2018 to 115 days in 2021.
- In fingerprint analysis, controlled substances, firearms, toxicology, and forensic imaging, cases took longer to process under Kaul.
These delays have real-world consequences. Slower crime lab processing means delayed justice for victims and prolonged cases for law enforcement.
The Verdict: Setting the Record Straight on Schimel
Despite the facts, political opponents continue to misrepresent Brad Schimel’s record, attempting to falsely tie him to Wisconsin’s rape kit backlog while ignoring the clear evidence that he was the one who solved it. These attacks are misleading at best and dishonest at worst.
Meanwhile, the same critics who attacked Schimel’s record have remained silent on the crime lab’s struggles under Josh Kaul. The data shows that while Schimel worked to process forensic evidence efficiently, Kaul’s administration has overseen a steep decline in crime lab efficiency, leading to fewer cases tested and longer turnaround times in key forensic categories such as DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and toxicology.
The facts are clear:
- Brad Schimel inherited a rape kit backlog from previous Democratic leadership and successfully eliminated it.
- Under AG Josh Kaul, Wisconsin’s crime lab has been handling fewer cases and taking longer to test critical forensic evidence.
- Schimel took decisive action, securing funding, clearing over 4,000 rape kits, and working across party lines to ensure justice.
- Kaul’s administration has failed to maintain efficiency, creating delays that undermine law enforcement and victims’ rights.
While Schimel played a key role in fixing what previous administrations ignored, the broader issue of timely forensic processing remains a challenge for law enforcement and policymakers. However, the contrast is clear: Schimel’s leadership resulted in tangible improvements, while the current administration’s inefficiencies are setting Wisconsin back.
For those who care about justice, law enforcement efficiency, and victims’ rights, the numbers speak for themselves. Misleading narratives cannot change the reality of Schimel’s success and Kaul’s failures.
