News

SAKI TTA Webinar: SAKI Investigations: Sharing Successes and Breaking Through Barriers
— SAKI TTA, Aug 21, 2018

This webinar was presented by Robert (Bob) Furneaux, Detective, Maricopa County (AZ) Attorney’s Office, Coreylyn Crawford, Assistant State Attorney, Special Assault Division State Attorney’s Office, Fourth Judicial Circuit (FL), Sergeant Jacob DeVevo, Special Assault Unit, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (FL) Lead Detective, Ken Muscat, Sexual Assault Kit Task Force, Wayne County Prosecutors Office (MI), and Detective Mark Farrah, Sexual Assault Kit Task Force, Wayne County Prosecutors Office (MI). This webinar focused on successful investigations from SAKI sites including the Maricopa County (AZ) Attorney's Office, the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff's Office, and the Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, as well as the Wayne County (MI) Prosecutor's Office. Cold case sexual assault investigations present unique challenges often not seen in current cases.

Albuquerque makes progress on rape kit backlog
— The Associated Press, The Durango Herald, Aug 20, 2018

The city of Albuquerque has tested 1,050 of 4,543 unprocessed sexual assault evidence kits as of the end of July.

Portland man found guilty of 2010 rape after victim's sex assault kit tested
— Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian/OregonLive, Aug 17, 2018

A Portland, OR man was convicted in a 2010 sexual assault case after DNA testing of unsubmitted sexual assault kits linked him to the case.

DNA Cracks 1993 Rape Cold Case
— LEX 18, Aug 9, 2018

DNA testing of unsubmitted sexual assault kits has linked a Lexington, KY man to a 1993 sexual assault.

BESHEAR TO CO-HOST TRAINING FOR NEARLY 20 STATES FOCUSED ON UN-SUBMITTED SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS
— BereaOnline.com, Aug 3, 2018

The SAKI TTA Team, in collaboration with the Kentucky State Attorney General's Office, hosted the 2018 Statewide Sexual Assault Reform in SAKI workshop bringing together approximately 20 statewide jurisdictions addressing sexual assault response reform.

AG: 12 arrests in Nevada as most of backlogged rape kits get sent for testing
— News 3 Las Vegas, Aug 2, 2018

Testing of previously untested SAKs has resulted in at least 12 arrests in Nevada. As of June 30th, 6,367 of the 7,645 untested kits had been sent for testing.

Southern Utah officials receive training on tracking sexual assault kits
— Markee Heckenliable, St George News, Aug 1, 2018

A group of trainers from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice has been traveling the state to provide free training to law enforcement, sexual assault nurse examiners, and victim advocates on use of a tracking system and other requirements of HB200.

SAKI TTA Webinar: Strategies for Building Effective Outreach Campaigns
— SAKI TTA, Jul 31, 2018

his webinar was presented by Joan Eliel, SAKI Coordinator, Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Department of Justice and Jan Preslar, SAKI Mobile Site Victim Advocate, Division Manager, Lifelines Counseling Services/Rape Crisis Center. This SAKI TTA webinar featured the outreach campaign efforts of two SAKI sites. The Montana SAKI site discussed the initial creation and implementation of outreach tools including a website, a SAKI phone hotline for survivors, and a SAKI contact email for survivors. The Mobile Police Department (AL) created The Promise Initiative, a public awareness campaign to provide trauma-informed and victim-centered advocacy to survivors of sexual assault while informing the community about the department’s ongoing sexual assault reform.

Wilmington 2017 rape suspect tied to 2 previous cold case rapes from 2010, 2014
— DJ McAneny, WDEL, Jul 31, 2018

A Wilmington, Delaware man has been implicated in cold case rapes that occurred in 2010 and 2014 after the testing of previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.

How rape kits in Kentucky are processed
— Louisville Courier Journal, Jul 18, 2018

View this video to learn more about how rape kits are processed in Kentucky.