Lincoln Police Department agrees to release rape kit results, other findings to alleged victim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2014

LINCOLN - A settlement has been reached between the Lincoln Police Department and national web-based magazine Slate in relation to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Nebraska in December of 2013. Slate is dropping the lawsuit and the Lincoln Police Department has made arrangements for the alleged victim to review the findings from the investigation, including the findings of her own rape kit.

The lawsuit was filed by the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic at Yale Law School and ACLU of Nebraska on behalf of journalist Emily Bazelon.

Statement from Amy Miller, Legal Director for ACLU of Nebraska

When law enforcement has stopped investigating a crime that you reported, you should be able to learn why. We are pleased that the alleged victim will have access to records which include the findings of her own rape kit. We hope that Lincoln Police Department will make it easier for other alleged victims to understand how to obtain records about the crimes they report in the future.