Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

In FY2018, Maryland was awarded $2.6 million in SAKI grant funding to: (1) conduct a statewide inventory; (2) test a portion of the State’s unsubmitted kits; (3) establish a statewide tracking system; (4) provide victim services; and (5) develop and implement statewide policies and procedures to improve sexual assault response.

To date, Maryland has: 1) inventoried 7,379 unsubmitted and partially tested kits; 2) established a SAEK testing protocol and submitted 450 SAEKs for testing; 3) developed and implemented the victim notification protocol and provided victim services; 4) developed a CODIS Hit Follow-Up & Cold Case Investigation Plan; and 5) initiated the process to procure a commercially available tracking system. This grant has been extended through September 2022.

At this time, Maryland is seeking additional funding to 1) hire CODIS Investigators to assist law enforcement agencies to provide investigative support to assist law enforcement agencies (LEAs) struggling to meet the 90-day timeframe for following up on CODIS hits; 2) hire a ViCAP/CODIS Hit Coordinator to conduct the necessary outreach and follow-up with LEAs and be their central point of contact to ensure that ViCAP entries are made and CODIS hits are tracked; 3) continue providing victim services to individuals impacted by the testing of backlogged SAEKs; and 4) test an additional 990 SAEKs.

Proposed Activities: 

Provide investigative support to LEAs following up on CODIS hits.

Conduct the necessary outreach and follow-up with LEAs to ensure that ViCAP entries are made and CODIS hits are tracked.

Provide victim notification and referral for services as needed.

Develop and implement uniform SAEK policies and procedures.

Continue review and development of improved SAEK policies and practices.

Provide trainings on victim notification policies upon request. 

Submit SAEKs for testing.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) is the applicant/lead agency under this application. GOCCP will partner with the Office of the Attorney General, the Maryland State Police, laboratories, and the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.