PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department’s stockpile of sexual assault kits has been reduced “significantly,” according to a statement from the department.

As of August 2023, ABC15 reported that the department had more than 830 sexual assault kits to be testedup from previous figures reported earlier that year.

ABC15 has been reporting for years about the buildup of sexual assault kits in Phoenix and the state of Arizona. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

Last year, the city of Phoenix approved more than $3 million in additional funding to help outsource testing of DNA rape kits crowding the city.

Progress on delayed DNA rape kits may come with new funding approval

The police department says that in just over a year since receiving the funding, it has been able to test 930 kits by outsourcing and hiring more forensic scientists.

A “significant” number of the 800 waiting kits have been tested, with an average of about 50 new kits also being received each month, the department said in a statement.

The department estimates that 160 sexual assault kits remain, “the majority of which are expected to be sent for processing in the next month.”

Phoenix police say that Victim information portallaunched in early 2024, it is due to expand in 2025 to include cases of sexual assault.