FY23 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) - Purpose Area 1

The Division of Criminal Justice, the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, and the Office of Justice Data, within the Office of the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, are seeking $2.5 million in grant funding to develop and launch a statewide SAK tracking system. This system will require all law enforcement agencies and forensic nurse examiner programs across the state to enter and track every Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kit currently in their possession and all future kits turned over to them. The tracking system will provide every victim of sexual assault the ability to track the progress of their kit and case.
Additionally, the new system will allow monitoring of kits from collection through processing to aid in better identification of delays in submission or analysis, as well as to improve collaboration with other tracking systems including CODIS and VICAP. Funds will also be used to expand long-term storage capacity for SAFE kits. New Jersey is committed to collaboration with stakeholders including prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratories, victim advocacy agencies, health care providers, and victims and survivors to optimize the handling of SAKs in New Jersey and ensure that the needs of all involved, particularly victims, are met.