News

Florida convict pleads guilty to 1980s rapes in Tennessee
— WKRN.com, Jul 3, 2020

Man pleads guilty to two rapes from 1980s after DNA from previously unsubmitted SAKs was matched to him.

Minocqua Man Sentenced for Child Sexual Assault After Testing of Backlogged Sexual Assault Kits
— Wisconsin Department of Justice, EIN Press Wire, Jul 2, 2020

Testing of previously unsubmitted SAK led to conviction and sentencing (25 years) of man in Wisconsin.

Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of a Child After Backlogged Kit Tested
— Wisconsin Department of Justice, Jun 9, 2020

Man sentenced to 25 years in prison as part of the Wisconsin SAKI project.

Accused rapist back in jail, charged with 2010 sex assault
— Matthew Reisen, Albuquerque Journal, May 30, 2020

DNA from previously unsubmitted sexual assault kit leads to arrest in case from 2010 .

DA: Rape suspect now facing 15 new charges in connection with 2012 Portland case
— Fox 12 Oregon, May 14, 2020

A 40-year-old man accused of raping a woman in 2013 is now facing additional charges in connection with a case from 2012, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

PAVSA video link from April 9th
— PAVSA Facebook Account, May 11, 2020

Video produced by PAVSA in Duluth, MN detailing the effects of COVID-19 on Sexual Assault Investigations.

Identifying Serial Sexual Offenders Through Cold Cases
— Rachel E. Lovell, Ph.D., Angela Williamson, Ph.D., Thomas J. Dover, Ph.D., Timothy G. Keel, M.S., and Daniel J. Flannery, Ph.D., May 7, 2020

Testing the evidence contained in SAKs is crucial and, in most states, no longer optional for law enforcement. The benefits explained in these five recommendations make it clear that law enforcement must do all it can with the forensic advancements now available to bring justice to the victims of sexually motivated crimes. However, testing is just the first step—it should be followed by investigations and prosecutions. SAKI grants provide as much funding for prosecutions and investigations as they do for testing kits. Ultimately, both testing evidence and sharing information are key to identifying suspects and reaching successful prosecutions.

Micro-Webinar: BJA FY2020 Funding Opportunities - "Competitive" Forensic Science Grant Programs
— Bureau of Justice Assistance, May 6, 2020

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and RTI International, hosted a micro-webinar on Tuesday, May 5th to discuss available Fiscal Year 2020 competitive forensic science funding opportunities. These solicitations/grant programs will provide states and localities with various resource tools to improve the quality of their forensic science services to meet the challenges of crime and justice and improve overall public safety. Discussed solicitations included the following: (1) Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program, (2) Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence, (3) Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA, (4) Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking and Reporting (SAFE-ITR) Program, and (5) Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program.

DOJ official: Fayetteville PD shows how to tackle sexual assault crimes
— Katie Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs, Apr 11, 2020

Katie Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs, provided insight into the progress the Fayetteville SAKI program has made since 2015 in ensuring justice for victims of sexual assault.

AG FERGUSON LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO TRACK THE PROGRESS OF RAPE KIT TESTING
— Washington State Attorney General's Office, Apr 6, 2020

The Attorney General’s Office today launched a website to keep the public up to date and provide comprehensive information about Washington’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program, part of a statewide initiative to end Washington’s rape kit backlog.