Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) GranteeKansas Bureau of Investigation

In FY2015, SAKI awarded the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) a $2-million grant, which they used to identify and evaluate the underlying factors that have contributed to the accumulation of unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs). This grant money also helped develop evidence-based best practices and model policy guidance to prevent future SAK accumulation, test previously unsubmitted SAKs, investigate and prosecute resulting cases, and address the need for victim notification and re-engagement with the criminal justice system.

The KBI, funded 2015-2019, used SAKI funding to achieve several goals and milestones, including the following:

• Developed a report, Identification of Underlying Factors, which highlights the underlying circumstances that contributed to the accumulation of unsubmitted SAKs throughout Kansas. The publication cites a lack of training, resources, policy, and societal awareness as the four core factors; additionally, the report identifies specific recommendations to address the barriers associated with each factor. These findings and recommendations have been shared with agencies in Kansas that have a role in responding to sexual assault in hopes of preventing a future accumulation.
• Identified more than 2,200 previously unsubmitted SAKs across the state. Recognizing that laboratory resources were limited, only a portion of the full inventory was tested. The results of this analysis will help KBI develop evidence-based recommendations to address the remaining statewide inventory and determine model policies for future SAK submission and retention. KBI selected 12 local agencies to submit a portion of their SAKs (i.e., a cross-sectional sample) for a "test-all" analysis; each agency was required to have at least 25 SAKs in their property room to participate in the analysis. This amounted to approximately 25% of the total statewide inventory and encompassed local agencies from both urban and rural jurisdictions.
• Developed a new strategy—Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit packets—to assist local law enforcement agencies. When a DNA match occurs from laboratory analysis, a SAKI research analyst sends a packet of materials to law enforcement to assist with evaluating the case for reinvestigation. This packet includes the laboratory reports, CODIS hit notification, an in-depth suspect criminal background, suspect's last known location and contact information, and victim's last known location and contact information.

For more information on the specific SAKI awards for this site, see the table below.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation Funding

Year	Amount	Purpose Area
FY2015	$2,000,000	Comprehensive Approach to Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits

Please direct all media inquiries to:

Melissa Underwood
melissa.underwood@kbi.state.ks.us
785-296-8283

To learn more about their progress, read below for other news and events out of Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

News and Events

Kansas nearly clears ~2,200 untested sexual assault kit backlog
— Cecelia Jenkins, WIBW 13, Oct 17, 2019
KBI has tested 2,000 of their previously unsubmitted kits and found 93% of suspects had a criminal histories and collectively committed 7,000 crimes.

Wichita police commit to send rape-kit backlog of nearly 1.700 for DNA testing
— Chance Swaim, The Wichita Eagle, Nov 2, 2018
The Wichita Police Department announced that they are instituting a "submit all" policy for testing sexual assault kits, including their 1,700 backlogged kits from 2002-2017.

KBI’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative recommends all sexual assault kits be submitted to a laboratory and tested
— Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Apr 13, 2018
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) released a formal recommendation that all sexual assault kits collected in Kansas be submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis. This recommendation is based of of KBI's SAKI project and 2 years of study. Read KBI's announcement.

Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative announces findings and makes recommendations
— Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Jul 25, 2017
KBI has discussed the underlying causes of the accumulation of backlogged sexual assault kits in Kansas. The results, as well as recommendations to prevent a future accumulation can be reviewed in the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Findings & Recommendations Publication.

Kansas Working Group as a Model for Successful Collaboration
— EndtheBacklog.org, Apr 17, 2017
Katie Whisman (Executive Officer, Kansas Bureau of Investigation) leads the Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, a statewide multidisciplinary working group tasked with addressing the state’s existing backlog and developing standardized practices to improve the handling of rape kits. In this blog post, Katie shares her experiences with the group, whose successes include achieving 100 percent law enforcement agency participation in a voluntary statewide audit of unsubmitted rape kits.

Kansas Completes Rape Kit Inventory - Interview
— Cecelia Jenkins, 6 News Lawrence, Apr 6, 2017
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) completed a statewide inventory of untested sexual assault kits, identifying over 2,000 kits. With current funding, the KBI estimates at least 2 years to complete testing. Follow the link for an interview with KBI executive officer Katie Whisman, who leads the SAKI effort in Kansas.

Kansas becomes the first state to complete statewide sexual assault kit count with 100% voluntary law enforcement participation
— Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Mar 14, 2017
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, (KBI) completed a statewide inventory of all previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits in Kansas. This count was accomplished with the full participation of each of Kansas’s 383 city and county law enforcement agencies. They are the first state to have 100% participation that is voluntary. KBI identified 2,220 unsubmitted sexual assault kits in the possession of 86 law enforcement agencies. Approximately 1,200 have been submitted to the forensic laboratory as of March 2017. Find out more by reading the full release.

2,000-plus pending sexual assault kits identified in Kansas
— Katie Moore, The Topeka Capital-Journal, Sep 21, 2015
As of September 2015, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation identified 2,008 unsubmitted sexual assault kits statewide. Kansas formed a statewide multidisciplinary working group that includes law enforcement, forensic laboratories, forensic nurses, and victim advocates to address the problem. Read the story to find out more.

KBI surveying local law enforcement on unprocessed sexual assault kits
— Ann Marie Bush, The Topeka Capital-Journal, Nov 23, 2014
In November 2014, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation initiated a survey of all Kansas law enforcement agencies to identify unsubmitted sexual assault kits in the state. The state agency created a plan to identify and test forensic evidence so that it can be entered into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Read the full story.