BJA FY24 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

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With this solicitation, BJA seeks to support the Department’s priorities of reducing violent crime and supporting law enforcement officers and prosecutors by: Providing jurisdictions (including rural and tribal) with resources to address unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs) (including partially tested kits) in their custody that have not been submitted to a forensic laboratory for testing with Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)-eligible DNA methodologies. Improving investigations and prosecutions in connection with evidence and cases resulting from the SAK testing process, as well as other violent cold case crimes. Providing sites with resources to collect DNA samples from qualifying individuals who should have a sample in CODIS, but from whom a sample has never been collected or submitted to a laboratory for testing, as well as developing/reforming policies for arrestee collections, if legally permissible in the awardee’s jurisdiction. In addition to addressing unsubmitted SAKs, the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) addresses partially tested SAKs, as defined herein, and untested evidence associated with sexually motivated homicides and other violent cold case crimes.