Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office unhindered by crime lab backlog

Unlike other parts of the state, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is is not hindered by a backlog in the processing of sexual assault kits, or other crime lab work.

“The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office runs the Southwest Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory.  This crime lab is the regional lab that serves the five-parish area (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis).  The lab provides services such as chemistry (analyzing samples for the presence of controlled and non-controlled substances), processing of latent fingerprints, DNA testing, and blood alcohol testing.  Thanks to our dedicated and skilled analysts who work at the lab, we are fortunate to be able to run our rape kits in-house and not have to send them off, which helps us stay on top of cases and ensures we do not get behind or get a back log,” stated Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory.

In 2023, there were approximately 100 sexual assault kits submitted to the SWLA Crme Laboratory, and all of those kits have been completed through DNA screening, at minimum, according to Vincent, CPSO spokesperson. However, this does not include any “cold case” sexual assault kits worked. Five kits were submitted from Allen Parish, ten from Beaureagard, 86 from Calcasieu and two from Cameron.

Louisiana launched the rape kit tracking system after years of backlog, and now sexual assault victims in Louisiana will now be able to track the status of their rape kit after Senate Bill 169 by Sen. Beth MIzzel passed this year.

In an article about the rape kit backlog, the Times Picayune reported that there are currently 563 kits, mostly from New Orleans,  in the backlog at the State Police Crime Lab. Most have been outsourced for testing.

Bethany Bryant said the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office had six rape convictions in 2023, and rape kits were used in many of those convictions.