U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Untested Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases
NCJ Number
              241356
Journal

*Sexual Assault Report* Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: January/February 2013 Pages: 33,34,40-43
Author(s)
          Nancy  Ritter
Date Published

February 2013
Length
              6 pages
Annotation
              This article overviews the issue of untested sexual assault kit (SAK) evidence and presents recommendations on how best to handle the current backlog and reduce delays in the future.
Abstract
              There are thousands of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) stored in police evidence rooms, crime labs, hospitals, clinics, and rape crisis centers in the United States. However, making decisions about how best to handle all of this older, unanalyzed evidence is difficult and complicated; and these decisions affect every stakeholder, especially the victim. This article examines the issue of untested SAKs in the hands of law enforcement verse what is considered the "backlog" of SAKs awaiting testing in the nation's crime labs; and presents policy and practice recommendations designed to improve SAK processes as they relate to which SAKs should be examined, "action research" currently being funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), NIJ's project in Detroit, and actions to take in the post-testing phase. The author stresses that "delays in evidence being sent to a lab as well as delays in analyzing evidence and conducting police investigations result in delays in justice" with the potential of serial victimization or wrongful convictions. The ultimate goal is to adopt research-based practices, procedures, and protocols to move beyond the current "crisis management" approach.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2011-DN-BX-0001
                                2011-DN-BX-0002


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Issue Overview


  
  
        
  Award
        The Detroit Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Action Research Project
                                Action Research to Enhance Investigations and Prosecutions of Sexual Assaults in Houston
    
  
  
Date Published: February 1, 2013
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Evidence
        Evidence collection
        Evidence Identification
        Evidence preservation
        Forensic laboratories



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Interactive Map: Medicolegal Death Investigation Data Flow
                  Technical Note – Gas Chromatography Vapor-Phase Infrared Spectroscopy (GC-VIR)
                  Chromatographic and mass spectral studies on methoxymethcathinones related to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov