News

Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog Reduction Project
— City of Albuquerque, Aug 3, 2022

"The Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) Backlog Reduction Project was created to test previously unsubmitted SAEKs, commonly referred to as rape kits or the rape kit backlog, that have accumulated for years. This project will not only submit for testing thousands of SAEKs, but also focus on policy development and change, training, following up on investigative leads, prosecuting eligible cases, enable better reporting of crimes, outreach for the victim notification process, strengthening victim services, and eliminating the possibility of a future backlog."

AG Jennings Applauds CJC Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Policy Changes
— Deleware.gov, Aug 2, 2022

"Attorney General Kathy Jennings applauded several policy changes implemented by the Criminal Justice Council as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen rights for survivors of sexual assault. The new policies establish timelines for the collection, documentation, processing and investigation of assault evidence “kits.” This policy is a result of funding received from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program."

‘I felt like I got let out of prison:’ Atlanta rape victim gets justice after 22 years
— Yahoo News, Jul 23, 2022

"A Fulton County prosecutor says the victim’s rape kit sat untested for years-- and there may be hundreds of other women still waiting for justice because of the same issue. Willis says Ward’s prosecution was one of her top priorities. It was made possible thanks to the sexual assault kit initiative which was funded by grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice. The sexual assault kit initiative sent old kits to private labs for testing."

Boston police launch new initiative to solve cold case rapes
— WCVB5, Jul 23, 2022

"But police are taking another look at 1,000 kits where no DNA was detected, using a $2.5 million federal grant to submit the kits to an outside lab for advanced DNA testing. The new technology uses what's called Y screening, used to detect male DNA. "That's what's really exciting about this grant," said Kevin Kosiorek, director of the department's crime lab. "The federal government wants us to test everything. They're not satisfied unless it gets re-screened using Y screening."

Spokane Police Department nearing completion of 1,500 untested sexual assault kits
— KREM2, Jul 15, 2022

"With the help of a state grant, the Spokane Police Department is working through a back log of 1,500 untested Sexual Assault kits. Now, the department is nearing completion."

Attorney General Josh Stein Provides Sexual Assault Kit Testing Update
— ncdoj.gov, Jul 14, 2022

"Attorney General Josh Stein today announced a new record of hits in the CODIS DNA database: 1,211 hits. That is a nearly 18 percent increase from the previous fiscal year and means that – thanks to increased testing – law enforcement has more ability than ever to move forward on cases. In addition to announcing this milestone, Attorney General Stein has launched a statewide sexual assault kit tracking dashboard. This dashboard was made possible by federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative."

New Minnesota rape kit tracking system promises more accountability
— MPRNews, Jul 13, 2022

"The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is rolling out a new system to help survivors of sexual assault track information about their cases. The BCA will begin using the Track-Kit system statewide this week. The system gives survivors of sexual assault 24/7 online access to information about their sexual assault kit. The system is part of a mandate from the Minnesota Legislature to give survivors access to information about their kits."

University Of Central Missouri: Missouri Attorney General Grants Community Partnership Award To UCM Public Safety For Role In Helping With SAFE Kit Initiative
— India Education Diary, Jul 12, 2022

“The success of the SAFE Kit initiative depends on active participation from hospitals and law enforcement agencies willing to dedicate the time and effort to help us clear the backlog of untested sexual assault kits and achieve justice for victims,” Schmitt said in a press release. “We wanted to highlight the wonderful work these departments and medical facilities have done and thank them for their continued partnership with our office on this vital initiative.”

First statewide tracking system created to better Iowa’s sexual assault kit testing capabilities
— Innovation Iowa, Jul 11, 2022

"4,275. That was the number of unsubmitted, untested sexual assault kits in Iowa in March 2017. Before then, no one in Iowa knew that number. Not hospital staffs, not the state’s crime lab, not law enforcement agencies. Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, director of the Crime Victim Assistance Division (CVAD) of the Iowa attorney general’s office, said “many of them were just sitting in locked evidence rooms at local police departments,” and some were destroyed due to a lack of knowledge on storage procedures or damage from flooding."

Birmingham man accused of assaults involving 7 victims; DNA sample used in investigation
— 6WBRC, Jul 1, 2022

"Investigators said they received a notice from the Alabama Department of Forensic Science (ADFS) regarding an unknown DNA sample being linked to multiple sexual assault kits which connected one man to multiple sexual assaults. This case was identified as a high priority serial offender by investigators with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) unit."