About the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) provides funding through a competitive grant program to support the jurisdictional reform of approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in sexual assault kits (SAKs) that have never been submitted to a crime laboratory. SAKI is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and aims to create a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to sexual assault cases through (1) a comprehensive and victim-centered approach, (2) jurisdictional capacity building to prevent high numbers of unsubmitted SAKs in the future, and (3) supporting the investigation and prosecution of cases for which SAKs were previously unsubmitted. SAKI sites, both currently and previously funded, represent approximately 58% of the U.S. population (332.4 million).

Why is SAKI so important?

SAKI is critical to enhancing the criminal justice response to sexual assault and ensuring justice for victims. SAKI funding will not only help link victims to advocates and needed services, but also help jurisdictions implement best practices and comprehensive reform to help bring perpetrators to justice and increase safety in communities by preventing future sexual assaults.

There is currently no reliable estimate for the number of sexual assault kits (SAKs) that have not been submitted to a crime laboratory; however, the reasons behind the backlog are complex. Unsubmitted SAKs can be attributed to many factors, including poor evidence tracking, outdated and ineffective investigation practices, lack of resources and personnel, misunderstanding of crime lab case acceptance policies, and lack of understanding among law enforcement personnel about the value of testing SAKs.^1,2 Resolving these issues is critical to providing justice for victims and preventing such a backlog in the future.

SAKI Training and Technical Assistance Program

The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) program, led by RTI International and in partnership with a team of subject matter experts, offers expertise and assistance to jurisdictions as they establish widespread, evidence-based, sustainable practices for:

• Collecting and processing forensic evidence,
• Investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases resulting from evidence from previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs), and
• Supporting survivors of sexual assault.

In collaboration with ongoing efforts underway at the Office of Justice Programs and stakeholder organizations, the SAKI TTA team will assist in the development, implementation, and dissemination of best practices, policies, and protocols for addressing systematic issues that lead to large numbers of unsubmitted SAKs, and preventing those issues from reoccurring in the future.

The SAKI TTA team will efficiently disseminate publications and resources that address the lessons learned, common challenges, and best practices resulting from the experience of the SAKI grantees.

Focus Areas

Multidisciplinary response: Effective practices, including creating and maintaining a sustainable sexual assault response team (SART) or multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Law enforcement: Identifying investigative steps to take after a CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hit, prioritizing multiple CODIS hits, writing policy and procedure on investigative standards, collecting and handling evidence, and managing investigations.

Prosecution: Overcoming challenges associated with cold case prosecutions, training on witness preparation and questioning, and presenting sexual assault evidence at trial.

Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE): Identifying needs, gaps, and challenges in local SANE programs and supporting the role of a SANE in sexual assault response reform.

Forensics and crime analysis: Offering valuable expertise associated with SAK testing strategies — including forensic genealogy, crime analysis, and other advanced forensic DNA techniques.

Victim and family advocacy: Providing victim-centered and trauma-informed practices that improve how survivors and their families engage in the criminal justice system.

Case management: Offering expertise related to connecting crime laboratory information management systems to investigations and prosecutions.

The SAKI Team

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
BJA provides leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development. In consultation with the National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office on Violence Against Women, BJA created SAKI to meet the diverse needs of jurisdictions contending with issues resulting from unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs).

BJA Project Staff

• Carey Hendricks, Senior Policy Advisor, BJA Policy Office — Forensics Unit
• Hannah Barcus, Associate (Contractor), BJA Policy Office — Forensics Unit
• Caroline Shriver, Kathryn Manning, Wendy Rose, and Brandon Mitchell — State Policy Advisors, BJA Programs Office

RTI International
RTI is a private, nonprofit research organization headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC. RTI has comprehensive knowledge of forensic case processing, law enforcement/forensic laboratory operations, and policy/program assessment. RTI serves as the SAKI TTA POC for SAKI sites, collaborates with SAKI TTA partners, manages and provides TTA, and disseminates best practices associated with sexual assault and violent crime response reform.

POCs:

• Kevin Strom, PhD, Project Director
  Dr. Strom has led numerous, large-scale, complex projects in policing and forensic science, including research focused on unsubmitted and backlogged evidence. For the SAKI TTA, he oversees and guides the TTA team to meet the SAKI TTA objectives.
• Patricia Melton, PhD, Co-Project Director
  Dr. Melton is nationally recognized for her work in sexual assault response reform and forensic DNA analysis. She is the author of Enacting an Improved Response to Sexual Assault: A Practitioner's Guide to Successful Sexual Assault Response Reform and has experience developing and delivering TTA to law enforcement, legal, forensics, and medical professionals. For the SAKI TTA, she coordinates and directs the activities and deliverables that provide the requested TTA to the SAKI grantees.
• Nani Grimmer, Senior Project Manager
  Ms. Grimmer oversees the strategic project management activities, assesses the project for risks, supports strategic growth of the project, and advises on all aspects of project management.
• Ashley Rodriguez, Advanced DNA Testing Subject Matter Expert
  Ms. Rodriguez provides insight to advanced DNA forensics testing strategies and leads the creation of TTA materials associated with advanced testing strategies, including forensic genetic genealogy, in support of cold case sexual assaults, sexually motivated homicides and cold case violent crime.
• Crystal Daye, SAU Assessment Coordinator
  Ms. Daye oversees the Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) Assessments as well as coordinates the creation of TTA resources associated with advanced investigation strategies to support sustainable SAU practices.
• Amanda Young, Training Director
  Ms. Young oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of all SAKI TTA trainings, both virtual and in-person. This includes cost reporting activities, identification of topics and presenters, development of promotional materials, and coordination/oversight for printed materials (in-person events) and virtual hosting platforms (virtual events).
• Chris Williams, Outreach and Dissemination Director
  Mr. Williams oversees the planning and development of external communications and resources including the SAKI website, SAKI social media accounts, briefs, virtual working groups, and webinars.
• SAKI Training and Technical Assistance Regional Teams
  SAKI TTA supports SAKI sites through a Regional Team Subject Matter Expert (SME) design. Each Regional Team has a Regional Team Lead, which serves as the main POC and is supported by SMEs with representation from DNA Forensics, Law Enforcement, and Prosecution. The Regional Teams work collaboratively with sites to provide resources, training and expertise. Each SAKI site is assigned a Regional Team based upon their geographic location within the United States. These Regional Teams work collaboratively with sites to provide resources and training in areas of interest.

SAKI Training and Technical Assistance Team Partners

AEquitas
AEquitas' mission is to improve the quality of justice in sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and human trafficking cases. For the SAKI TTA, AEquitas provides assistance in developing policies and best practices, and facilitating training on the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

POCs:

• Patricia Powers, Attorney Advisor, primary POC

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

IACP provides training, model policies, and educational tools to support law enforcement officers, criminal justice, and community partners. For the SAKI TTA, IACP provides assistance in identifying and developing practices, procedures, and training to strengthen victim-centered approaches.

POCs:

• Jesenia Alonso, Program Manager
• Laura Wilt, Senior Program Manager

Michigan State University
Dr. Rebecca Campbell, Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University, is a nationally recognized practitioner trainer on sexual assault and the neurology of trauma. Dr. Campbell's SAKI TTA role is to provide assistance in developing strategies, testing plans, victim notification protocols, and training.

Wichita State University
Dr. Rachael Goodman-Williams, Assistant Professor of Community Psychology at Wichita State University (KS), provides significant expertise through her research focused on victim engagement, advocacy, healthcare, and well-being. Dr. Goodman-Williams assists SAKI sites through technical assistance, presenting at trainings, and collaborating with other SAKI stakeholders to further sexual assault response reform research.

Project: Cold Case
Project: Cold Case is a not-for-profit organization which seeks to spread awareness for unsolved homicides in the United States, while linking information, families, and law enforcement together. Project: Cold Case provides advocacy expertise through trainings, webinars, and direct grantee interaction on the SAKI TTA project.

POC:

• Ryan Backmann, Founder and Executive Director

Joyful Heart Foundation
The Joyful Heart Foundation's mission is to transform society's response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors' healing, and end this violence forever.

POC:

• Ilse Knecht, Policy and Advocacy Director

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual-assault organization and a national leader in online crisis intervention services. RAINN's SAKI TTA role is to provide assistance in developing victim-centered approaches for jurisdictions.

POC:

• Erin Earp, Legislative Policy Council

Violent Criminal Apprehension Program Partnership (ViCAP)

In early 2017, the BJA SAKI team partnered with ViCAP in an effort to increase use of the database and the sharing of crime intelligence information from SAKI-related cases across jurisdictions and the country. ViCAP staff are available to assist sites in gaining entry into the system; provide training on optimal use of the database; and conduct crime analysis on specific offenders/cases upon request. Additionally, ViCAP has a designated SAKI analyst to directly assist our sites. For more information about ViCAP, including the definition of "criteria cases," please refer to: Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP)

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Strom, K. J., Roper-Miller, J., Jones, S., Sikes, N., Pope, M., & Horstmann, N. (2009, October). Survey of law enforcement forensic evidence processing 2007. Final Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.

Harvard Kennedy School. (2014, October 31). Taking on the challenge of unsubmitted sexual assault kits [Webinar]. Retrieved from Government Innovators Network