National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

 

Goals: The goal of the SAKI is the creation of a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to these cases whenever possible through a victim-centered approach, as well as to build jurisdictions? capacity to prevent the development of conditions that lead to high numbers of un-submitted SAKs in the future. Objectives: The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, administered by BJA, provides funding through a competitive grant program to support multi-disciplinary community response teams engaged in the comprehensive reform of jurisdictions? approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in previously un-submitted sexual assault kits (SAKs). Un-submitted kits (those in in police custody that have never been submitted to a crime laboratory for testing with CODIS-eligible DNA methodologies) and untested kits (those that have been submitted to crime labs but are delayed for testing (e.g. as a result of a backlog of work in the laboratory) are separate and distinct issues. The focus of this effort is on those un- submitted kits that have never been submitted to a crime laboratory.

Active 16.833 Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 More than 45,000 SAKs inventoried by 32 SAKI sites (represents 26 states) Over 12,000 SAKs sent for DNA testing Nearly 1,000 DNA hits in CODIS Identification/apprehension of numerous violent offenders/increased public safety.
Fiscal Year 2018 To date, 64,508 SAKs inventoried; 47,216 SAKs sent for testing; 46,907 SAKs tested to completion; 14,913 Profiles uploaded to CODIS; 7,060 CODIS hits; 6,137 Investigations; 961 Cases charged. Identification/apprehension of numerous violent offenders/increased public safety. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Public Law 116-6 Eligible applicants for Purpose Areas 1, 3 and 4 are law enforcement agencies of states, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), prosecutor's offices, or a governmental non-law enforcement agency acting as fiscal agent for one of the previously listed types of eligible applicants. Eligible applicants for Purpose Area 2 are limited to Small Law Enforcement Agencies with less than 250 sworn officers OR consortia of small law enforcement agencies. See the current solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs website https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. U.S. Citizen. The application must include: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); Program Abstract; Program Narrative; Budget and Budget Narrative. For specifics, please see the current fiscal year's solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Upon approval by the Assistant Attorney General, successful applicants are notified via the Grants Management System. One copy of the grant award must be signed by the authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 120 to 180 days. Determined by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP. Determined by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP. BJA may, in certain cases, provide supplemental funding in future years to awards made under this program. Important considerations in decisions regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, strategic priorities, assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and assessment of the progress of the work funded under the award. Criteria are described in the OJP Program Announcement available at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. Funds will be provided to address the issue of un-submitted SAKs and address the underlying issues that lead to the problem occurring. See the current solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs website https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. Performance Reports: To assist in fulfilling the Departments responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, recipients must provide data that measures the results of their work. Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, state or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control. In accordance with the requirement set forth in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F, grantees must maintain all financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the award for at least 3 years following the close of the most recent audit. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The assistance is available for up to 36 months. There are no restrictions placed on the time permitted to spend the money awarded. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. None/Not specified. Dr. Angela Williamson
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531 US
Angela.Williamson@usdoj.gov
Phone: 202-307-5831 http://www.bja.gov 15-0404-0-1-754 (Project Grants) FY 18$43,282,707.00; FY 19 est $48,000,000.00; FY 20 est $47,500,000.00; FY 17$37,450,080.00; FY 16$38,393,725.00; - See the current fiscal year's solicitation guidelines posted on the Office of Justice Programs web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm. Solicitation guidelines are posted on the Office of Justice Programs web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm . For additional guidance reference the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide (https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm) and Post award Instructions (https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/index.htm). Applicable administrative requirements and Department of Justice regulations applicable to specific types of grantees can be found in title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 C.F.R.). Fiscal Year 2018 Support the investigation and prosecution of cold case sexual assaults, including the hiring of additional personnel involved in sexual assault response and implementing a case management system database as well as advanced technology to increase the efficiency of investigations. Conduct a statewide inventory of unsubmitted SAKs in law enforcement custody, provide training to law enforcement and prosecutors, and assist with victim services in jurisdictions with a high volume of unsubmitted sexual assault evidence kits. Fund the enhancement of a sexual assault evidence kit tracking system for victims and the outsourcing of DNA analysis of unsubmitted SAKs found during the inventory process.
Fiscal Year 2019 Approximately 30 new awards (1) providing jurisdictions with resources to address sexual assault kits (SAKs) in their custody that have not been submitted to a forensic laboratory for testing by Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)-eligible DNA methodologies; (2) improving investigation and prosecution in connection with evidence and cases resulting from the testing process; and (3) providing sites with resources to collect DNA samples from qualifying individuals who should have a sample in CODIS (based on the type and time of the offense in relation to applicable state law), but from whom a sample has never been collected or submitted to a laboratory for testing.