Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) GranteePima County (Arizona)

In FY2019, SAKI awarded Pima County a $2-million grant which was used to complete the inventory of their untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) at the Pima County Sheriff's Department and 100% of all STR-inconclusive SAKs at the Tucson Police Department for advanced testing. Currently, the funding is being used to conduct familial DNA searches, forensic genealogy searches, and/or DNA phenotyping/ancestral analysis; these methods support successful suspect identification and prosecution. In addition, the funding is helping to improve victim-centered support by adding a dedicated prosecutor and two victim advocates for cold case resolution.

For more information on the specific SAKI awards for this site, see the table below.

Pima County Funding

Year	Amount	Purpose Area
FY2019	$2,000,000	Comprehensive Approach to Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits

News and Events

Arrest made in 2004 sexual assault case thanks to grant given to Pima Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
— Karly Tinsley, KOLD 13, Feb 26, 2021
DNA evidence from previously untested SAKs leads to arrest in double sexual assault from 2004 in Pima County, Arizona. “It’s not a matter of it, it’s a matter of when. It’s a matter of time before that individual commits another crime and that their DNA profile is entered, and it matches one from our kits,” said Crehan.

Grant for sexual assault investigations in Pima County gives promising results
— https://www.kold.com/2020/12/19/grant-sexual-assault-investigations-pima-county-gives-promising-results/, Dec 19, 2020
In 2019, PCSD had an inventory of more than 350 boxes containing untested evidence from sexual assault cases- some even dating back to the 80s. Now, through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), detectives have been able to find DNA on more than 200 box-kits. And out of those, 101 have yielded hits on an individual, either by name or crime.