NCJ Number
252589
Date Published
January 2019
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This Factsheet describes the features of the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA's) National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), along with a featured description of SAKI training and technical assistance (TTA) funded by BJA and answers to frequently asked questions about SAKI.
Abstract
SAKI assists jurisdictions that are contending with a backlog of sexual assault kits (SAKs) waiting to be tested. In 2015, 20 state and local jurisdictions were selected to be SAKI sites; 12 additional jurisdictions were funded in 2016, 9 jurisdictions in 2017, and 13 jurisdictions in 2018. The SAKI Training and Technical Assistance (SAKI TTA) program provides expertise and assistance to SAKI selected jurisdictions and other jurisdictions. TTA focus areas and partners are outlined. These areas include effective multidisciplinary responses to sexual assault cases; investigative steps following a DNA match through CODIS; the prosecution of "cold" sexual assault cases; the work of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs); crime laboratory links to sexual assault investigations and prosecutions; and victim advocacy. The frequently asked questions addressed pertain to sources of SAKI information, how SAKI grantees were selected, how to connect with SAKI TTA news and events, activities covered by SAKI funding, who has access to TTA resources, and how to request TTA.
Date Published: January 1, 2019