- IN EARLY MARCH A TOWN HALL WAS HELD AT THE STATE CAPITAL TO ALLOW SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ADVOCATES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ASK QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO SPOKE THAT DAY WAS MIRANDA SPENCER.

- YOU CAN NEVER IMAGINE LIVING IN THE SHOES OF A SURVIVOR WHO IS WAITING AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RESULTS OF SOMETHING SO INVASIVE TO GO THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE.

- RIGHT NOW NEARLY 1,400 VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN COLORADO ARE WAITING TO GET RESULTS FROM THE DNA THEYVE SUBMITTED.

IT'S TAKEN THE STATE MORE THAN 500 DAYS TO TURN AROUND AND PROCESS THE EVIDENCE, MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS LONG AS THE STATE'S GUIDELINES.

- YOU DESERVE TIMELY RESULTS AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE FALLEN SHORT, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO FIXING THIS AND WERE GOING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU TODAY HOW WE ARE GOING TO FIX THIS.

- THE BACKLOG HAS DELAYED INVESTIGATIONS AND CAUSED A RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

- THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF APOLOGIES, THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF EXCUSES THAT WILL JUSTIFY WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

- VERY FEW LEGISLATORS KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL IT CAME UP DURING AN OVERSIGHT HEARING THIS JANUARY.

- THIS IS HUGE.

THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE REALLY BEEN COMING TO US AS LAWMAKERS SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND POINTING OUT THIS PROBLEM BUT I DON'T RECALL ANYONE EVER MENTIONING A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT.

- I'M BENTE BIRKELAND, A PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTER FOR COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

I'VE BEEN COVERING POLITICS AND POLICY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

- IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

-YEAH, I HAVENT SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.

- HOW ARE THINGS?

I KNOW IT HAS BEEN.

- BUT I'VE RARELY WITNESSED A TOPIC SO PAINFUL BURST ONTO THE PUBLIC SCENE AND QUICKLY TAKE CENTER STAGE.

- I CALLED MY DETECTIVE EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO CHECK ON MY RAPE KIT.

THIS CANNOT BE THE BURDEN PUT ON VICTIMS FOR JUSTICE.

- HI MIRANDA, ITS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

- HI, NICE TO SEE YOU.

COME IN.

AS MUCH AS YOU ARE ABLE TO, CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN NOVEMBER 2023?

- I WAS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE AND SO I HAD NEVER USED A DATING APP BEFORE.

I SIGNED UP FOR BUMBLE BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A SAFE ONE TO USE FOR WOMEN AND SO I WENT ON FIVE DATES TOTAL WITH FIVE DIFFERENT MEN AND THE LAST DATE WAS WITH A MAN WHO PERSISTENTLY ASKED ME OUT SO I LET A FRIEND KNOW, “HEY I'M GONNA GO OUT” AND THE EXACT WORDS THAT I USED WERE “ON THIS PITY DATE.

YOU CAN COME OVER AFTERWARDS AND WE CAN HANG OUT.” I WENT ON THE DATE AND I ONLY REMEMBERED PROBABLY THE FIRST 20 OR 30 MINUTES AND I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WITH MY FRIEND JUST KIND OF HOVERING OVER ME STARING AT ME.

HE'S ASKING ME, “ARE YOU OKAY” AND THEN HE WENT ON TO TELL ME WHAT HE WALKED INTO IN MY HOME.

WHICH WAS THE PERSON THAT ASSAULTED ME WAS IN MY BEDROOM.

I WAS UNCLOTHED, PRETTY INCAPACITATED.

I HAD VOMIT ALL OVER ME.

AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED AND I COULDNT UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD HAVE A STRANGER IN MY HOME.

ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS MY DAUGHTER.

- IT'S MY GUARD SNAKE.

- AND LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS MAN DIDNT JUST VIOLATE ME IN LIKE A PHYSICAL WAY BUT HE COULD'VE KILLED ME.

- AFTER THE ATTACK MIRANDA WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND FOUND OUT SHE HAD DRUGS IN HER SYSTEM.

- SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THE DIAGNOSIS OF FENTANYL POISONING, ASSAULT.

- SHE ALSO GOT A FULL BODY MEDICAL EXAM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS CALLED A SANE EXAM.

A NURSE TOOK PHOTOS AND COLLECTED DNA EVIDENCE OFF OF HER BODY.

THE DNA WAS SENT TO THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

- I REMEMBER THE NURSE JUST TELLING ME IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS GETTING THIS FORENSIC EXAM DONE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOING TO BE 8 TO 10 MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS PROCESSED.

- BUT 18 MONTHS LATER, MIRANDA IS STILL WAITING FOR THOSE RESULTS.

EXPLAIN WHY HAVING THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

- I WAS DRUGGED AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I DON'T REMEMBER AND THERE'S A LOT OF ANSWERS THAT I DON'T HAVE.

AND I MEAN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF TO HAVE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORST THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU, LIKE ALL OF THE DETAILS OF IT, IT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT THAT ON SOMEBODY.

- BUT THEY WERENT COMMUNICATING THAT?

- MY DETECTIVE NEVER TOLD ME ONCE THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF DELAY, EVER.

I HAD TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT FOR MYSELF.

AND THAT'S ABSURD.

IT FEELS LIKE CRIMINALS HAVE SO MANY MORE PROTECTIONS THAN VICTIMS DO.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

- DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL GET JUSTICE?

- I HAVE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS.

I HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS.

- WHATS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS WHOLE THING?

- LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THIS NEW VERSION OF ME BECAUSE I HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO ME TO THE POINT WHERE LIKE BEING AROUND FRIENDS AND FAMILY, LIKE I DIDNT TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WOULD SEE SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.

POLAR BEAR THIS TIME IF YOU WANT OR SNAIL?

AND LIKE FOR MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SO YOUNG AND ITS JUST UNFAIR TO HER THAT FOR A WHOLE YEAR AND HALF OF HER VERY SHORT LIFE, I HAVE BEEN CONSUMED BY THIS AWFUL THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

- THE AGENCY MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE'S SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOG THAT'S AFFECTING MIRANDA AND NEARLY 1,400 PEOPLE IS THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION KNOWN AS CBI.

EVERY MONTH CBI GETS BETWEEN 80 TO 96 SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS.

IT TAKES ABOUT 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO PROCESS EACH KIT.

HOWEVER DUE TO STAFF LIMITATIONS AND HIGH CASELOADS THE STATE SAYS SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS SHOULD BE TURNED AROUND WITHIN 180 DAYS OR SIX MONTHS.

BUT OVER THE PAST DECADE THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DIDNT ALWAYS MEET THAT TURNAROUND TIME, AND IN 2022 MADE EFFORTS TO DO BETTER.

- WE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE.

WE WERE HIRING SCIENTISTS AND AS YOU MAY KNOW IT TAKES A DNA SCIENTIST ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING FROM THE TIME THAT THEY WALK INTO ONE OF OUR LABORATORIES.

SO WE HAD PRE-PLANNED AHEAD.

- BUT THEN IN 2023 THE PLAN DERAILED.

- WE GOT INVOLVED IN WHAT I LIKE TO DESCRIBE AS THE PERFECT STORM.

WE HAD NUMEROUS DNA SCIENTISTS GO OUT ON SOME PROTECTED LEAVE, THEN WE HAD THE MISSY WOODS INCIDENT HIT.

- A FORMER DNA SCIENTIST IS NOW FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR ALLEGED CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT AFTER SHE WAS ACCUSED OF MANIPULATING DATA IN MORE THAN 1,000 CASES.

- SHE'S ACCUSED OF COMMITTING A CYBERCRIME, PERJURY, 48 COUNTS OF ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND 52 COUNTS OF FORGERY.

- BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN BASICALLY 50% OF OUR DNA SCIENCES FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR TO GO THROUGH AND RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, THE OVER 10,000 CASES THAT OUR FORMER SCIENTIST HAD WORKED.

THAT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

WE STARTED SEEING AT THAT TIME IS WHEN THESE NUMBERS STARTED COMING UP, AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IS IT TOOK OUR SCIENTISTS THAT WERE ALREADY IN TRAINING AND IT BASICALLY PUT A PAUSE ON THEIR TRAINING.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 16 DNA SCIENTISTS, WE HAVE 15 IN TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

- AS CBI WAS DEALING WITH THE STAFFING SHORTAGES AND THE VERY PUBLIC FALLOUT OF THE MISSY WOODS INCIDENT, THE TURNAROUND TIME SKYROCKETED.

BUT THE PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH SAY THEY WERE NEVER INFORMED THAT THESE INCIDENTS WOULD CAUSE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT BACKLOG TO BALLOON.

- I'VE LOOKED AT CBI DATA THAT SHOWS EVEN PRIOR TO THE MISSY WOODS CASE THERE WAS STILL A PRETTY BIG BACKLOG.

- YEAH.

THE MISSY WOODS CASE DIDNT CAUSE THE BACKLOG, IT WAS STILL THERE BUT IT DID COMPOUND THE BACKLOG.

I MEAN QUITE FRANKLY, INSTEAD OF CBI EXPANDING THEIR AUTHORITY LAST YEAR TO DEAL WITH FIREARMS INVESTIGATIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY TO DEAL WITH THE DNA LAB, KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN HOUSE FIRST.

- OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL EVEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH PROSECUTING THESE CASES WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, LIKE BOULDER'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL DOUGHERTY.

- IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME.

I ACTUALLY DIDNT BELIEVE THE EMAIL WHEN I FIRST GOT IT.

530 DAYS.

THINK ABOUT HOW LONG THAT IS, ESPECIALLY TO A VICTIM, A SURVIVOR OF A SEX ASSAULT WHO HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND WHO IS WAITING FOR JUSTICE TO BE DONE.

- BEYOND THE SHOCK HE FELT, DOUGHERTY SAID DELAYS IN PROCESSING DNA EVIDENCE CAN AFFECT THE RESULTS OF A TRIAL.

- THAT DELAY ALSO IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO SECURE A CONVICTION BECAUSE THE JURY WILL QUESTION WHY THERE WAS A DELAY BETWEEN THE REPORT AND CHARGES BEING FILED AND THE DEFENSE WILL OFTEN POINT TO THAT DELAY AS A REFLECTION OF SOME LACK OF CREDIBILITY WITH THE VICTIM WHEN IN FACT IT'S JUST A BREAKDOWN IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VICTIM.

- IN MOST SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES DNA EVIDENCE IS CRITICAL.

BUT GETTING IT ISNT JUST A QUICK SWAB IN THE MOUTH SO WE TRAVELED TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS TO MEET WITH JONI OWENS, ONE OF THE FEW NURSES IN THE STATE TRAINED SPECIFICALLY TO PERFORM MEDICAL EXAMS ON VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

- HOW SOON AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT WOULD SOMEONE NEED TO COME IN TO DO THE EXAM?

- CURRENTLY THE LAB SAYS WE CAN COLLECT EVIDENCE UP TO FIVE DAYS AFTER AN ASSAULT OBVIOUSLY THE SOONER WE GET TO AN EXAM THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO CAPTURE DNA OFF OF A BODY.

BUT WE DO HAVE UP TO FIVE DAYS.

- WHAT'S THE TIME SPAN UNTIL THE EXAM IS COMPLETE?

- TYPICALLY ANYWHERE FROM 2 1/2 TO 4 HOURS AND A LOT OF THAT IS BASED ON HOW MANY INJURIES SOMEONE HAS AND HOW LONG IT TAKES US TO DO THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS.

I'VE HAD AS LONG AS SIX HOURS FROM BEGINNING TO END BUT USUALLY THREE IS AVERAGE.

THIS IS OUR MEDICAL EXAM ROOM AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S A LOT MORE COZY THAN GOING TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

SO WE GET THESE FROM THE CRIME LAB AND EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE IS IN HERE.

THEY PROVIDE ALL OF THE COTTON SWABS THAT WE WILL USE TO SWAB THE BODY, TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE.

IF THERE'S TRACE EVIDENCE WHICH ANY EXTRA HAIRS, IF SOMEBODY WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OUTSIDE AND THEY HAVE DIRT OR PLANT DEBRIS IN THEIR HAIR OR ON THEIR SKIN, WE CAN COLLECT THAT.

AND WE DO A HEAD TO TOE EXAM.

YOU KNOW IT'S A MEDICAL EXAM THAT WE ARE PROVIDING JUST LIKE YOU WOULD GET AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR AN ANNUAL CHECK AND AS WE'RE DOING THAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR THOSE INJURIES.

IF WE FIND INJURIES WE OFFER TO TAKE PICTURES OF THEM.

I HAVE A SPECIAL CAMERA THAT I USE WHEN I DO THE INTERGENITAL EXAM AND ITS CALLED A COLPOSCOPE.

AND THESE ARE MY COLPOSCOPES.

- JONI OFTEN KEEPS STUFFED ANIMALS IN THE ROOM FOR YOUNG PATIENTS AND USED IT TO SHOW US HOW SHE PERFORMS EXAMINATIONS.

- AS YOU CAN SEE, IT PUTS ITS IMAGE UP ON THE COMPUTER AND HAS THE ABILITY TO ZOOM IN, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SMALL INJURIES.

WHEN WE ARE DOING THE SPECULUM EXAM, WE GET UP NICE AND CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THIS, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY DO PICTURES INTERNALLY.

AFTER THE EXAM IS DONE WE THEN MOVE INTO THOSE CONCERNS THAT ARE USUALLY ONE OF THE HEAVIEST THINGS THAT ARE ON SOMEONES MIND AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT IS: DID I GET PREGNANT?

DID I GET AN STI?

DID I GET HIV?

AND SO WE KEEP OUR MEDICATIONS LOCKED UP OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE HAVE OUR MEDICATIONS FOR STI PREVENTION, WE HAVE PREGNANCY TESTS THAT WE CAN DO AND I CAN OFFER THEM PREGNANCY PREVENTION OR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MORNING AFTER PILL.

SO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE KIT WHICH IS WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL IT INSTEAD OF A RAPE KIT, JUST THAT WORD IS FURTHER TRAUMATIZING I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE.

SO AFTER EVERYTHING IS DONE, JUST PACKAGE IT UP IN THE ENVELOPE, SEAL IT UP AND HAND IT OVER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

- WE WANTED TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE DNA EVIDENCE AND SEE HOW IT IMPACTS AN INVESTIGATION SO WE MET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST A FEW TOWNS OVER IN RIFLE, AND SAT DOWN WITH THE HEAD OF INVESTIGATIONS FOR GARFIELD COUNTY.

- COME ON INSIDE.

SO THIS IS OUR RIFLE ANNEX.

- THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE NOTHING BUT SEX ASSAULTS COMING IN.

THIS IS OUR EVIDENCE LOCKERS.

MAKE SURE NOTHING'S IN ANY OF THESE.

- WHAT'S THAT LAST ONE?

- THIS LAST ONE, THIS IS OUR REFRIGERATED EVIDENCE LOCKER.

WHEN WE GET THOSE SANE KITS FROM THE MEDICAL STAFF WHEN THEY'VE COMPLETED IT WITH OUR VICTIMS WE BRING THEM HERE AND THEY GET LOCKED IN LIKE THIS ONE HAS SOMETHING IN IT.

- IN THESE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES WHERE A LOT OF TIMES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PROVE THE CASE, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT DNA EVIDENCE?

- IT CAN BE CRITICAL.

IT CAN CONFIRM A LOT OF WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD US HAS HAPPENED.

IF WE HAVE A SUSPECT WHO SAYS “NO IT WASNT ME AT ALL,” AND WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO OBTAIN BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE WE CAN SAY “IT WAS YOU,” OR “YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WASNT YOU.” FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT WE WANT THAT EVIDENCE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE SUSPECT, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ARREST A SUSPECT, WE WANT TO PUT A SUSPECT IN PRISON FOR IT.

- WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU ON THE INVESTIGATIVE SIDE?

- IT GETS FRUSTRATING FOR MY DETECTIVES AND MY INVESTIGATORS TO JUST REPEATEDLY SAY, “WE'RE STILL WAITING, WERE STILL WAITING.

I'M SORRY WERE STILL WAITING.” SOMETIMES WHEN WE COME BACK AND SAY HEY WE FINALLY GOT A RESULT, YOU KNOW A YEAR LATER.

BY THE TIME WE GO THROUGH A WHOLE COURT PROCEEDING IT COULD BE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR YEARS LATER, AND SOMETIMES VICTIMS ARE LIKE - THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT ANYMORE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AND WE HAVE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THEY'VE MOVED ON, WERE STILL WORKING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF JUSTICE FOR THEM.

- IT'S NOT JUST VICTIMS IMPACTED BY THE BACKLOG.

CRANE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT DELAYS ALSO AFFECT THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

- IF WE HAVE A KNOWN SUSPECT OR WHO WE BELIEVE TO BE THE SUSPECT, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE ARE WORKING A CASE WE TRY TO KEEP THAT CONFIDENTIAL.

WE DON'T RELEASE THAT INFORMATION BUT PEOPLE TALK, THERE'S WITNESSES AND VICTIMS AND VICTIMS FRIENDS AND SUPPORT GROUPS.

IT MAKES THE COMMUNITY FEARFUL, LIKE WHY HAVEN'T YOU GONE AND ARRESTED THAT PERSON YET?

THEY CLEARLY RAPED SOMEBODY OR THEY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED SOMEBODY WHY HAVEN'T YOU GUYS DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT YET?

THE PERPETRATOR IS STILL OUT THERE.

THEY COULD BE DOING THIS TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

- BACK AT THE CAPITAL LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN WORKING DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADDRESS THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOG.

THEY VOTED TO GIVE THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AN ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION TO TACKLE IT.

- IT ENSURES THAT THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PARTY TO GET THESE CASES OUT, AND GET VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS ANSWERS.

DOES IT ABSOLVE CBI OF ANY ACCOUNTABILITY?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

- STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE JENNY WILLFORD HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON THE NEED TO ELIMINATE THE BACKLOG.

- REPRESENTATIVE WILLFORD.

- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.

SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE.

- THE BILL REQUIRES THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO SPEND MONEY APPROPRIATED ON BACKLOGGED DNA EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS.

IT ALSO ALLOWS CBI TO CONTRACT WITH EXTERNAL LABS TO PERFORM THE TESTING.

THE BILL REQUIRES CBI TO CREATE A DASHBOARD TO UPDATE THE PUBLIC ON THE BACKLOG.

I EXPECTED THE BILL TO PASS AND WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

- REPRESENTATIVE WILLFORD IS A UNIQUE ADVOCATE ON THIS ISSUE.

SHE HERSELF IS A RECENT SURVIVOR AND WAS ONE OF THE ROUGHLY 1,400 PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE STATE TO PROCESS HER EVIDENCE.

- ALL RIGHT BENTE.

- I'VE BEEN COVERING HER WORK AT THE CAPITAL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I MET HER AT HER HOME.

- AND THEN WE USUALLY ADD IN SOME BUGS.

- I WANTED TO TALK TO HER ABOUT HER OWN EXPERIENCE.

- OKAY, ARE YOU READY?

AND WHY SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING SO HARD THIS SESSION TO MAKE REFORMS.

- SO AS A STATE LAWMAKER YOU ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION RIGHT NOW AS SOMEONE WHOSE SURVIVED A SEXUAL ASSAULT.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO SPEAK OUT PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS?

- IT'S BEEN REALLY EMOTIONAL.

IT'S BEEN REALLY EMOTIONAL, IT'S BEEN HEAVY, AND I DECIDED THAT I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE WERE PROBABLY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE EXPERIENCING WHAT I DID, AND BEING A STATE LAWMAKER MEANS THAT WHEN I SPEAK UP, WHEN I BRING SOMETHING UP ON THE FLOOR, PEOPLE HAVE TO LISTEN.

- YOU'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN COLORADO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFTER YOU'VE SHARED YOUR STORY PUBLICLY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT STANDS OUT?

- I'VE BEEN REALLY SURPRISED BY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE HAD STORIES AND HAVE SHARED THEM.

COLLEAGUES IN OTHER LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE SHARED PRETTY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO MINE AND I NEVER SAW THAT COMING.

I'VE BEEN REALLY SURPRISED BY JUST THE VOLUME OF STORIES.

I FEEL LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND WHAT I HAVE REPORTED IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

- WE ASKED REPRESENTATIVE WILLFORD IF SHE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE SHARING HER STORY WITH US.

SHE SAID ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN FEBRUARY 2024 SHE WENT OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS, SOMETHING SHE RARELY DOES AS A STATE LAWMAKER AND MOM OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

- WE HAD A COUPLE OF DRINKS, AND EVERYTHING CHANGED AFTER THAT.

- ON THE WAY BACK I WAS PICKED UP BY A LYFT, AND IT WAS LATE.

YOU ALWAYS HEAR YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR MATCHES THE CAR THAT PICKS YOU UP AND THE PERSON MATCHES THE PERSONS PICTURE.

AND THE CAR MATCHED THE CAR AND THE PERSON LOOKED KIND OF LIKE THE PICTURE AND SO I WAS LIKE, “GREAT.” AND I GOT IN THE CAR, AND WERE DRIVING AND HE STARTED MAKING COMMENTS TELLING ME HOW PRETTY I WAS, ASKING ME IF I WAS MARRIED, ASKING ME IF I WANTED TO MAKE OUT.

I TEXTED MY HUSBAND, I TEXTED MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, AND WAS LIKE, “THIS GUY IS SAYING CRAZY THINGS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

ARE YOU AWAKE?” CUS IT WAS 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I JUST SAID “I'M NOT INTERESTED, THANK YOU.” AND WHEN WE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND GOT INTO THE BACKSEAT WITH ME.

AND I WAS STUNNED, LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING?

AND HE TRIED TO KISS ME, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, “NO I DON'T WANT THIS, I TOLD YOU I'M MARRIED,” AND I STARTED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND HE RAN AROUND THE CAR AND HE PUSHED ME BACK DOWN INTO THE CAR.

AND I WAS LIKE THIS IS REALLY SCARY AND HE WAS TRYING TO KISS ME AND HE PUT HIS HAND UP MY DRESS AND ASSAULTED ME.

IT'S JUST TOTALLY SHAKEN EVERY THING THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT SAFETY.

I THOUGHT I WAS DOING ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS, I THOUGHT I WAS MAKING SAFE CHOICES AND - YEAH IT JUST SOUNDS HORRIFIC.

- I KEEP THINKING THAT I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND NOT JUST BE FULL-BLOWN IN MY EMOTIONS BUT I'M NOT THERE YET.

- DO YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF YOUR DNA EVIDENCE CASE RIGHT NOW?

- I DO NOT.

AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY I DIDNT ASK FOR THE DNA TO BE EXPEDITED AND I DEEPLY BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN SPECIAL TREATMENT AS A LAWMAKER.

I SHOULD WAIT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS.

EVERYBODY ELSE'S CASE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

- TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE AT ON YOUR BELIEF IN POTENTIALLY GETTING JUSTICE IN YOUR CASE?

- THE THING THAT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME IS THAT EVEN AS A LAWMAKER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND I CAN IMAGINE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND THE PEOPLE THAT I DO FEELING FRUSTRATED WITH OUR PROCESS AND NOT HAVING ANSWERS.

- PART OF ME DOES, IVE REALLY WONDERED IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE POSITION YOU DO WHAT DISCUSSION WED BE HAVING?

-I DONT KNOW THAT WE WOULD.

MY HOPE IS THAT BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO LOOK AT ME THEY HAVE TO HEAR MY STORY AND THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON IT, KNOWING THAT WE STILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER MEANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION.

BUT I SHOULDNT HAVE TO USE MY POSITION.

I SHOULDNT HAVE TO SHARE MY PAIN TO FORCE CHANGE.

- THIS MAY, REPRESENTATIVE WILLFORD FINALLY GOT HER DNA RESULTS BACK AFTER ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF OF WAITING AND PROSECUTORS HAVE FILED A FELONY CHARGE AGAINST HER ALLEGED AGGRESSOR.

- GOOD BOY.

- SHE'S ALSO SUING LYFT AND THIS SESSION SPONSORED A BILL TO IMPROVE RIDER SAFETY BUT IT WAS VETOED BY GOVERNOR JARED POLIS AFTER RIDESHARE COMPANIES SAID IT WAS UNWORKABLE AND UBER THREATENED TO LEAVE THE STATE.

MEANWHILE CBI HAS STARTED PUBLICLY POSTING ITS BACKLOG AND HAS PLEDGED TO PROCESS THOSE CASES BY 2026.

TO DO THIS, IT WILL BE OUTSOURCING SOME KITS TO OTHER LABS.

AND BY 2027 CBI SAYS THEY WILL HAVE 31 STAFF FULLY ONBOARDED, ROUGHLY DOUBLE WHAT THEY SAY THEY'VE HAD IN RECENT YEARS.

- OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE TURNAROUND TIME FROM 500+ DAYS TO 90 DAYS FROM SUBMISSION TO DETECTIVE.

- EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A CONCRETE PLAN IN PLACE RIGHT NOW SOME PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH POSE QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS EFFECTIVENESS LONG-TERM, ESPECIALLY IF STAFF CONTINUE TO RESIGN OR TAKE MEDICAL LEAVE.

- SO THE FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN TALKING ABOUT BACKLOG IS THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK.

SO THAT'S HOW MANY SCIENTISTS WE HAVE, HOW MANY CASES THEY CAN PROCESS EACH MONTH AND THEN HOW MANY WE ARE RECEIVING IN.

SO IF ALL THINGS STAY THE SAME EXCEPT SUBMISSIONS GO UP A BACKLOG CAN GROW.

IF SOMEONE RESIGNS OR LEAVES, THEN THAT DECREASES OUR CAPACITY SO EVEN IF THE SUBMISSIONS STAY THE SAME THEN A BACKLOG GROWS.

- CBI SAID THEY MONITOR THE BACKLOG MONTHLY AND TRY TO MAKE PROACTIVE DECISIONS ON WHEN TO START OUTSOURCING.

THEY'VE ASKED VICTIMS AND LAWMAKERS TO LET THEM SEE THE CURRENT PLAN THROUGH.

- WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS BOOK?

DID YOU FIGURE IT OUT?

EVA AND THE LAUGH SPELL.

I HOPE THAT MORE SURVIVORS CAN COME TOGETHER BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE'S POWER IN NUMBERS.

- AS A CHILD IT'S A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, THERE'S A LOT OF SHAME IN THERE.

- I'M HERE TODAY AS A SURVIVOR AND ALSO PRIMARILY TO READ TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF A SURVIVOR.

- THE ONLY THING THAT BROUGHT ME PEACE WAS THE THOUGHT OF JUSTICE AND BEING ABLE TO PROTECT SOMEONE ELSE FROM THIS INDIVIDUAL.

- I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME FORWARD, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ADVOCATE FOR THIS, IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE THING THAT STOPS IT AND PREVENTS IT FROM HAPPENING AS MUCH AS IT DOES.

-I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF US THAT ARE STRUGGLING EVERY DAY TO MOVE THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED WITH US.

- I HOPE THAT WOMEN JUST PROTECT EACH OTHER, LIKE WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT IS IT IS VERY HEALING TOO.