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Notifications
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| SAKI HOME | TOOLKIT | WEBINARS | VIRTUAL ACADEMY |
Notifications
| ||
Connecticut's Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) has worked with key partners to test all unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs), except for those that are anonymous. DESPP has implemented a holistic, victim-centered approach and created a working group that identifies and addresses the various factors that lead to high numbers of unsubmitted SAKs in Connecticut.
DESPP utilized their original SAKI funding of $1,401,966 in FY2015 to achieve several goals and milestones, including testing 70% of their identified SAKs. This testing yielded 259 DNA profiles eligible for the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and 75 CODIS hits.
DESPP received additional SAKI funding in FY2017 for $1,847,559, which went towards analyzing workflow and helping design policies and procedures that improve SAK handling across the state—including investigation, prosecution, and victim notification. The additional funding also allowed DESPP to investigate and prosecute more cases in which SAKs were only partially tested.
DESPP received $1,488,202 in additional SAKI funds in FY2019. With this latest grant, they are conducting additional testing on secondary evidence in sexual assault cases; funding the existing victim notification coordinator and site coordinator positions; and supporting SAK tracking software, overtime, outsourcing, and travel.
Find more reports and updates from the Sexual Assault Kit Working Group in Connecticut.
For more information on the specific SAKI awards for this site, see the table below.
| Year | Amount | Purpose Area |
|---|---|---|
| FY2015 | $1,401,966 | Comprehensive Approach to Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits |
| FY2017 | $1,847,559 | Comprehensive Approach to Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits |
| FY2019 | $1,488,202 | Comprehensive Approach to Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits |
Please direct all media inquiries to:
Keeping track of kits a tool against rape
— Emilie Munson, CT Post, Oct 7, 2018
Connecticut has purchased a tracking system that allows victims to see where their sexual assault kit is at any time.
Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative aims to create a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to sexual assault cases. Through this program, funding is provided 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.
