Why is SAKI so important?

SAKI is critical to enhancing the criminal justice response to sexual assault and ensuring justice for victims. SAKI funding will not only help link victims to advocates and needed services, but also help jurisdictions implement best practices and comprehensive reform to help bring perpetrators to justice and increase safety in communities by preventing future sexual assaults.

There is currently no reliable estimate for the number of sexual assault kits (SAKs) that have not been submitted to a crime laboratory; however, the reasons behind the backlog are complex. Unsubmitted SAKs can be attributed to many factors, including poor evidence tracking, outdated and ineffective investigation practices, lack of resources and personnel, misunderstanding of crime lab case acceptance policies, and lack of understanding among law enforcement personnel about the value of testing SAKs. Resolving these issues is critical to providing justice for victims and preventing such a backlog in the future.

Show All Answers

1. What is SAKI?
2. Why is SAKI so important?
3. What is the SAKI process?
4. What is a sexual assault kit?
5. When and where is forensic exam conducted?
6. Who does the sexual assault kit?
7. What is DNA?
8. Why is the sexual assault kit done?
9. What is a DNA profile?
10. How does DNA get left behind?
11. How does the crime lab analyze for DNA?
12. What is CODIS?
13. How does CODIS work?
14. Does the victim’s DNA go into CODIS?
15. If there is a CODIS hit, does it mean that the suspect has been identified?
16. What happens if DNA evidence is not found?
17. Why weren't the kits tested?
18. Why are we testing the kits now?
19. What information does the suspect know?
20. Who can I contact to get more information about my sexual assault kit?