"Ms. Palin's handpicked police chief, Charlie Fannon, acknowledged the practice of billing to collect evidence for sexual-assault cases."

I've been following the issue of the rape kits on an Alaska discussion forum.

When Palin was mayor, her police chief made this a high profile issue that was covered in the local Wasilla paper. She had to have known about the charges because she also signed for them.

Part of the problem for Palin would be if emergency contraception was offered a the same time as rape evidence was collected (which sometimes happens). She is against such contraception. Another point is that the local police STARTED charging during Palin's time as mayor. It was not something that had been ongoing from the past.

"The local hospital did the billing, but it was the town that set the policy, Mr. Croft noted. That policy was reflected in budget documents that Ms. Palin signed."

"In the absence of answers, speculation is bubbling in the blogosphere that Wasilla's policy of billing rape victims may have something to do with Ms. Palin's extreme opposition to abortion, even in cases of rape. Sexual-assault victims are typically offered an emergency contraception pill, which some people in the anti-choice camp wrongly equate with abortion."

full article here:
New York Times Sept 25