The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Program

The City of Indianapolis with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) and its partners Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), and Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency (I-MCFSA), respectfully request funding under Purpose Area 1 to continue testing unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits (SAK) and to investigate sexual assaults with CODIS hits. The partners will work together to increase offender accountability, enhance and expand current collaboration on the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), provide victim support, collaborative advocacy, prosecution of sexual assault cases, and supportive services to survivors. This grant will enable the IMPD to secure services of an outsourced DNA laboratory to increase the number of SAKs tested. The grant funded site coordinator will work to support the multi-disciplinary team. The multi-disciplinary team will be comprised of the Marion County SART that meets bi-monthly to address sexual assault concerns. This group is comprised of IMPD officers, IMPD victim assistance, MCPO, I-MCFSA, sexual assault nurse examiners, and local non-profits providing community-based victim support and advocacy.

The I-MCFSA, through grant funds, will employ a Forensic Laboratory Technician, who will assist in the SAK Initiative. Requested funds will also be used to fund overtime for the Technician. A portion of the supplies needed for the SAK analysis have been requested to be purchased through grant funds with the remaining costs to be absorbed by the I-MCFSA. The cost of DNA testing has been defined in the budget narrative to show the requested cost of DNA testing is under fifty percent of the requested budget. The site coordinator will work with the SART and grant partners to review procedures as necessary, provide recommendations on needed policy updates and provide SART recommendations on minimizing future SAK backlogs to BJA. The site coordinator will also facilitate the sustainability plan for the project. The evaluation of the project will review the SAK backlog recommendations, the number of repeat offenders, case connectivity, and any trends found in investigation and prosecution of cases.