News

West Virginia's Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Information System Named Finalist for National Award
— West Virginia, Mar 3, 2017

The West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Information System has been selected as one of 30 finalists for the 2017 Igniting Innovation Showcase held on March 14, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Information System was developed by the WV Division of Justice and Community Service and the WV State Police Forensic Laboratory in partnership with WV.gov. The system will enable tracking of sexual assault kits from the time they are sent to a healthcare facility through when they are tested and is an innovative improvement for the tracking and evaluation of sexual assault kits.

Duluth Taking a Second Look
— Tad Vezner, Pioneer Press, Feb 17, 2017

The state of Minnesota is searching for ways address unsubmitted sexual assault kits. Read the full story to learn more about the strategies that the City of Duluth is using to overcome challenges and bring justice to victims.

'Missed opportunities' provide lessons for better rape investigations and prosecutions
— Rachel Dissell, Cleveland.com, Feb 10, 2017

Researchers in the Begun Research Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University are working with the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit Task force to draw important lessons learned from prosecuting cold cases that did not make it to court. To learn more about their key findings read the full story.

CMPD to get more resources to solve sex crimes
— Joe Bruno, WSOCTV, Feb 9, 2017

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is making strides to outsource sexual assault kit testing by entering into a new contract with Sorenson Forensics LLC. The funds for this nearly $250,000 contract are provided through the 2016 Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant from the Department of Justice. Read the full story to learn more.

WI DOJ Launches Program To Address Backlog Of Untested Sexual Assault Evidence Kits
— Laurel White, Wisconsin Public Radio, Jan 30, 2017

A new initiative by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and a sexual assault prevention group aims to decrease the backlog of sexual assault evidence kits in the state. The initiative, called “By Your Side,” reaches out to survivors of sexual assault who have had kits collected and provides connections to support services. Read the full story or visit www.byyoursidewi.org to learn more.

Rapist snagged by palm print match in 2006 case pleads guilty
— Rachel Dissell, Cleveland.com, Jan 25, 2017

A rape and attempted murder case went unsolved for almost a decade until Cleveland, Ohio police reinvestigated it and tested evidence with updated technology. When DNA testing did not yield a match, investigators turned to other methods leading to an arrest for the unsolved crime. In January 2017, the perpetrator admitted to attempted murder and rape. He is linked to cases of aggravated burglary, kidnapping, and felonious assault. For more information, read the full story.

CMPD Making Strides on Backlog of Untested Rape Kits
— Medium, Jan 24, 2017

In 2014, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department began inventorying unsubmitted sexual assault kits. During this process, they discovered 1,000 SAKs and that they needed a better way of tracking these kits. So far results have been received from 188 kits, 54 of which yielded DNA profiles, and 13 CODIS hits. Find out more about the CMPD survivor-focused approach to case investigation by reading the full story.

Memphis police say all untested rape kits will be sent to lab within 6 months
— Kendall Downing, WBRC Fox 6 News, Jan 17, 2017

The last of Memphis, Tennessee's unsubmitted rape kits will be sent to the lab for testing within the first 6 months of 2017. As of December 2013, there were more than 12,000 untested kits. From the kits testing already, 1,728 investigations have been opened, and 385 remain active. In court, so far 12 defendants have been found guilty, 1 found not guilty, 11 trials set, and 139 cases pending in criminal court. To learn more, read the full article.

Rape kit tested 2 decades later leads to arrest
— Francesca Amiker, News4 Jax, Jan 16, 2017

A 1995 sexual assault case was solved, and the perpetrator was arrested on sexual battery charges after the sexual assault kit was tested. The sexual assault kit was tested in 2014 under state efforts to test all unsubmitted sexual assault kits. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is using state and federal funding to allow for processing previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits. Remaining kits are expected to be submitted to the FDLE crime lab early in 2017. For more information, read the full story.

Attorney General Mark Herring announces $2 million grant to test remaining rape kits across Virginia
— WRIC Newsroom, Jan 11, 2017

Virginia was awarded additional funding to complement its existing award from the District Attorney of New York. The funds will be used to test any remaining backlogged rape kits, develop a new tracking system, develop specialized training for law enforcement relating to trauma-informed victim interaction, and preventing gender bias. To learn more about the work being done in Virginia, read the full article.