Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

In episode one of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Mary Weston, the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Supervisor of the Cold Case Unit, and Project Manager of the Sexual Assault Kit Task Force at Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office to discuss sexual assault response with vulnerable populations. Different challenges may arise when prosecuting sexual assault cases involving vulnerable populations, including cases with male victims.

In the final episode of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, Lieutenant Jordan Satinsky, and Marya Simmons to discuss at-home sexual assault kits through a victim-centered lens. Throughout this season, Just Science has spoken with various subject matter experts to discuss several perspectives posed by the use of at-home sexual assault evidence collection kits.

An introductory note for the interview advises that some of the most challenging cases to investigate involve sexual assault. The forensic evidence in such cases is critical and involves the cooperation of victims. Deputy Chief Mourtgos, who is both a researcher and a veteran police officer experienced in investigating sexual assault cases, discusses investigative issues in sexual assault cases, including the use of at-home sexual assault kits.

An introductory note for the interview advises that some of the most challenging cases to investigate involve sexual assault. The forensic evidence in such cases is critical and involves the cooperation of victims. Deputy Chief Mourtgos, who is both a researcher and a veteran police officer experienced in investigating sexual assault cases, discusses investigative issues in sexual assault cases, including the use of at-home sexual assault kits.

An introductory note indicates that Prevent Child Abuse Utah is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse. Thorpe, the Executive Director, discusses her career in child abuse prevention and response, as well as whether she believes at-home kits should have a role in addressing child sexual violence. Thorpe states that her focus in the work of Prevent Child Abuse Utah, which is part of a network of such organizations in jurisdictions throughout the country, is the prevention of child abuse.

In episode three of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Toni Laskey, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and the division chief of the Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children's Hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four girls and one in 13 boys under the age of 18 will be a victim of sexual abuse over their lifetimes. Listen along as Dr.

An introductory note indicates that as a researcher in sexual assault response reform and a sexual assault nurse examiner, Dr. Valentine is a subject-matter expert on collecting evidence in sexual assault cases. She discusses her work in sexual assault response reform and her perspective on the role of at-home SAKs in sexual assault cases. In discussing her current work and focus, she indicates that it pertains to SAKs and how they are managed in forensic science practice. She is currently involved in examining the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

An introductory note for the interview states that Monica Gardner knows from experience that healing isn’t linear. She shares her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, thoughts of self-harm, anxiety, and depression. She addresses the importance of therapy during the healing process and offers her perspective on at-home sexual assault kits performed without medical assistance or guidance. Monica notes that at-home kits give survivors the opportunity to proceed at their own pace without having to explain personal feelings, thoughts, and anxieties to a stranger.