Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Multidisciplinary Team

The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, and prosecutor’s offices to support multidisciplinary community response teams engaged in the comprehensive reform of jurisdictions’ approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs) - i.e. those SAKs that have never been submitted to a crime laboratory.

The goal of the SAKI is the creation of a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to these cases whenever possible through a victim-centered approach, as well as to build jurisdictions’ capacity to prevent the development of conditions that lead to high numbers of unsubmitted SAKs in the future. The holistic program provides jurisdictions with resources to address their unsubmitted SAK issue, including support to inventory, test, and track SAKs; create and report performance metrics; access necessary training to increase effectiveness in addressing the complex issues associated with these cases and engage in multidisciplinary policy development, implementation, and coordination; and improve practices related to investigation, prosecution, and victim engagement and support in connection with evidence and cases resulting from the testing process.

The State Attorney’s Office 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, serving Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties, will use the FY 2015 SAKI award to address the 1,726 unsubmitted SAKs in the Jacksonville area. The State Attorney’s Office will take a victim-centered multi-disciplinary approach that provides services and information in a timely and sensitive manner, while reducing the number of unsubmitted kits in evidence and investigating and prosecuting these cases. Through SAKI, the recipient will conduct an assessment of existing policies, implement a case management database, formalize partnerships, and conduct training. The recipient has established a multidisciplinary team, which is led by the State Attorney’s Office, and supported by multiple agencies including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. BJA SAKI funds will be used to fund an Assistant State Attorney devoted to identifying and prosecuting untested SAKs, a Prosecution Support Specialist, Victim Advocates, a Site Coordinator, Cole Case Detectives, and an Investigator; purchase equipment to implement a tracking system; training and travel costs; and other costs associated with project implementation.

CA/NCF