The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has made progress in shortening monthslong delays in laboratory testing of sexual assault evidence, according to a new audit by the state’s comptroller.
Two years ago, the bureau reported turnaround times of up to 45 weeks, delays that hindered criminal prosecutions and deferred justice for survivors.
That processing time has now dropped to 10 weeks, according to a comptroller report released Monday.
TBI Director David Rausch told a committee of lawmakers reviewing the report that the agency had hired 49 additional scientists — with another in the hiring process — to help speed up its forensic testing.