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                            Library & Multimedia
 Moving Forward While Looking Back: Understanding the Influence of a “Test All” SAK Mandate on Sexual Assault Case Attrition
NCJ Number
              308596
Journal

*Criminal Justice Policy Review* Volume: Online Dated: 2024
Author(s)
          April Pattavina;
                        Melissa S. Morabito;
                        Sabrina S. Rapisarda;
                        Linda M. Williams
Date Published

2024
Annotation
              This report examines the impacts of a “test all” policy in one jurisdiction and whether the increased number of DNA matches that were expected to result in the greater amount of testing, increased the likelihood of arrest; the document discusses the research study results, as well as its implications f or sexual assault investigations and future research.
Abstract
              The discovery of thousands of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) in police jurisdictions across the United States has prompted federal, state, and local agencies to enact policies regarding SAK testing. One legislative response has been to implement “test all” SAK policies. Such policies are expected to remove discretion from the kit submission process and provide crucial forensic evidence needed to guide sexual assault investigations. This study presents the impact of a “test all” policy in a single jurisdiction and investigates whether the increased number of DNA matches expected to come from more testing after implementation increased the likelihood of arrest. Results indicate that the impact of a DNA match on arrest increased after the mandate. The study concludes with a discussion of implications for sexual assault investigations and recommendations for future research. (Published Abstract Provided)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2012-IJ-CX-0052


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Decision-Making in Sexual Assault Cases:  Replication Research on Sexual Violence Case Attrition in the U.S.
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2024
    
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