Hope Harbor director thrilled over Kentucky rapid DNA announcement

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- At Hope Harbor in Bowling Green, Wednesday’s news of Kentucky becoming the first state in the nation to use rapid DNA for sexual assault cases, was exciting to hear for the facility’s executive director, Melissa Whitley.

Hope Harbor is a sexual trauma recovery center that works with and provides advocacy for sexual assault survivors.

Whitley says the new technology will allow survivors to heal faster. She also believes it will likely prevent future assaults.

“We are going to see that with it coming back sooner, we may help prevent sexual assaults from occurring,” Whitley said. “We know that many people who perpetrate sexual assault will perpetrate over and over again. To get those results back sooner means there may be less people on the streets.”

In 2018 alone, Hope Harbor provided assistance to 400 sexual assault survivors.