News

Montana DOJ Announces the Launch of a New Website and Hotline for Sexual Assault Survivors
— Montana Department of Justice, Jun 19, 2018

The Montana DOJ launched a new website where survivors of sexual assault can locate resources and get updates about Montana's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.

Rape kit leads to new charges
— Austin Montgomery, Beloit Daily News, Jun 15, 2018

Testing resulting from Wisconsin's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative leads to charges in a case from 2000. The man charged is a serial sexual offender.

Sex offender arrested on murder charge after Highland Park victim dies 30 years later
— Tasha Tsiaperas, Dallas News, Jun 13, 2018

DNA testing funded by SAKI leads to the arrest of a serial sexual offender for the rape and strangulation of a Dallas woman.

Efforts to clear Kentucky's rape kit backlog appear to be working
— Mark Vanderhoff, WLKY, Jun 12, 2018

A draft report from Kentucky's research partner, the University of Louisville, finds law enforcement agencies in the state are submitting more evidence from sexual assault kits than previous years.

New DPS online tool allows victims to track sexual assault kits
— Rosie Nguyen, Good4Utah.com, Jun 6, 2018

The Utah Department of Public Safety and Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice announced the launch of a statewide evidence tracking system. Survivors can access real-time information about their SAK through the system.

Fayetteville police make arrest in 2006 sexual assault case
— Nancy McCleary, Fayetteville Observer, Jun 5, 2018

The Fayetteville Police Department made an arrest in connection with a statutory rape case from 2006. This is the first arrest resulting from testing funded by their SAKI award.

Rape kit backlog yields new leads in cold cases
— Meris Lutz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jun 1, 2018

Learn more about the Metro Atlanta Sexual Assault Cold Case Task Force funded through the state's SAKI grant. The task force will be investigating new leads on cold cases following the testing of previously unsubmitted SAKs.

SAKI TTA Webinar: Key Considerations in Trauma-Informed Interviewing
— SAKI TTA, May 30, 2018

This webinar was presented by Lieutenant Jordan Satinsky, Deputy Commander, Montgomery County Police Department and Marya L. Simmons, a SAKI TTA Consultant. This webinar focused on key considerations for investigators when conducting a Trauma-Informed interview on a cold case sexual assault. Lt. Satinsky provided attendees with the history of trauma-informed interviewing, the need for multi-disciplinary collaboration, and best practices for deploying trauma-informed interviewing in the attendee’s agency. Marya Simmons discussed ways to gain skills in trauma-informed interviewing from a victim advocate’s perspective, how to support law enforcement with facilitating victim-centered interviewing, and the importance of a victim advocate's role in these interviews.

As state clears sex assault kit backlog, teams work to empower victims
— Sarah Thomsen, WBAY, May 29, 2018

The Wisconsin DOJ announced the last batch of previously unsubmitted SAKs in the state has been sent for testing and will be completed by the end of 2018.

11 years after a rape in Seattle, DNA leads to charges against Illinois man
— Sara Jean Green, Seattle Times, May 25, 2018

An Illinois man has been charged with first degree rape thanks to efforts in Washington State to test previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.