SAKI Sustainability and Sexual Assault Unit Assessments
In 2022, the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program expanded to include an additional purpose area, Purpose Area 5, focused on sustainability. The primary goals of the holistic SAKI approach are implementing sustainable policies and procedures that prevent unsubmitted kits from accumulating and to ensure the overall response to sexually motivated crimes is consistently conducted in a timely, victim-centered manner. As SAKI grantees approach the completion of testing, investigating, and prosecuting their SAKI cases, this purpose area solicits SAKI grantees who have completed testing of their unsubmitted kits and downstream case investigative activities for the majority of their cases for a final SAKI project that is focused on sustainability.
The first two grantees to receive funding for developing and implementing a sustainability plan were awarded in FY2022 — The City of Portland (Oregon) and Connecticut's Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. As of FY2022, SAKI grantees who received funding for this purpose area are eligible to participate in Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) Assessments.
Grantees looking for an in-depth evaluation of their Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) are encouraged to talk to the SAKI Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Team about the possibility of participating in a SAU Assessment. In addition, the SAKI TTA Team developed the following resources to help SAKI grantees determine whether to apply for the Purpose Area 5 Grant.
SAKI TTA Purpose Area 5 Informational Webinar
In this short webinar, the SAKI TTA team outlines the background and intent of Purpose Area 5, the role of the SAKI TTA team on Purpose Area 5, and key considerations for applying to Purpose Area 5.
Life Cyle of the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grants
This infographic highlights the key areas of the SAKI model and the typical activities grantees will conduct throughout the Purpose Area 1 or 2 grant. SAKI grantees considering applying for Purpose Area 5 funding should review this graphic to determine if they are ready to proceed with sustainability planning.
Sustainability Planning Worksheets
These worksheets will assist SAKI grantees to begin sustainability planning by inventorying all SAKI related materials, gathering information about identified successes and gaps in sustaining current SAKI related activities, and considerations for prioritizing sustainability efforts. The worksheets include:
- Phase 1: Policies, Procedures, and Documentation Worksheet
The purpose of this worksheet is to help SAKI grantees identify possible gaps in their policies, procedures, and documentation by inventorying all sexual assault related policies, procedures, and documentation. The worksheet provides examples of these materials. - Phase 2: Identifying Sustainability Needs Worksheet
The purpose of this worksheet is to support SAKI grantees to identify and prepare the parts of their SAKI program that need additional resources to implement sustainable sexual assault investigative practices through interviews with current SAKI staff and reviewing sexual assault related materials to identifying gaps in service, legislation, training, and funding. - Phase 3: Prioritizing Efforts Worksheet
The purpose of this worksheet is to help the SAKI grantees identify which parts of their SAKI program can and should be continued. In addition, this worksheet assists SAKI grantees with determining how to prioritize addressing identified gaps from the previous worksheets.
For information and final reports from previously completed assessments, please see below.
Sexual Assault Unit Assessments
The SAKI TTA Team is working with jurisdictions across the country to conduct SAU Assessments, which examine the processes and procedures in place for investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases—including the use of victim-centered and trauma-informed practices. These voluntary assessments are conducted in partnership with jurisdictions to provide an independent, comprehensive review of the sexual assault investigative process—both within and outside of the law enforcement domain.
The assessments have three components:
- A review of sexual assault policies and procedures;
- Interviews with staff, including supervisors within the SAU unit; and
- A systematic review of sexual assault investigative case files.
Following the systematic review, the SAU Team provides an in-person agency briefing and summary report that details the findings and recommendations—including linkages between identified needs and available resources and trainings.
The SAU Assessments are led by Dr. Kevin Strom and Ret. Detective Sergeant Jim Markey from RTI International and a team that includes subject matter experts in sexual assault investigations and victim advocacy. The team also leverages other SAKI TTA experts in investigations, advocacy, forensic nursing, forensic science, and prosecution.
If your jurisdiction is interested in discussing the SAU Assessment process in more detail, contact Crystal Daye (cdaye@rti.org) or the SAKI TTA Helpdesk (SAKITTA@rti.org; 1-800-957-6436).
SAU Assessment Reports
Fayetteville Police Department (North Carolina)
This report details the main findings and recommendations from the SAU Assessment for the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD), completed in December 2017. The report also identifies available resources and trainings to address specific needs. The FPD, which has been a SAKI site since fiscal year 2015, has been working with partners to aggressively pursue sexual assaults—including cold case sexual assaults associated with previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.
Fayetteville Police Department SAU Assessment Final Report
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (Florida)
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JS0), FL began a coordinated effort to address the previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits in Jacksonville, FL in 2016 with funding from the BJA National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. In 2020, JSO elected to participate in a sexual assault unit assessment to examine the impact of their operational and investigative practices for crimes of sexual violence. This report details the findings and recommendations from the 2020 SAU Assessment.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SAU Assessment Final Report
Mobile Police Department (Alabama)
The Mobile Police Department (MPD) initially received SAKI funding in 2015 and has been working to address the issue of unsubmitted sexual assault kits while adopting a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to their response to sexual assault reform within their jurisdiction. In 2018, MPD elected to participate in a sexual assault unit assessment to examine the impact of their operational and investigative practices for crimes of sexual violence. This report details the findings and recommendations from the 2018 SAU Assessment.
Mobile Police Department SAU Assessment Final Report
West Valley City Police Department (Utah)
West Valley City Police Department (Utah) participated in a SAU Assessment in 2018. This report highlights the efforts made by the agency to improve their response to sexual assault reform. This report also details the main findings, recommendations, and resources to help the West Valley City Police Department (WVCPD) in their response to sexual assault reform. The WVCPD is an agency part of the Commission of Criminal Justice (Salt Lake County)/Utah Department of Public Safety, which has been a SAKI site since fiscal year 2015. Law enforcement agencies working with this SAKI site are committed to solving cold case sexual assaults associated with previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.
West Valley Police Department SAU Assessment Final Report
The SAKI TTA Team continues to work on additional SAU Assessments. As those are completed, final reports will be added to this page.
