The Tucson Police Department (TPD) has accepted an award from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant Program (SAKI), to support sexual assault case investigations.
The $1.5 million grant will be available through September 2027.
In 2019, TPD eliminated its backlog of unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs) with funding from the District Attorneys of New York grant.
However, many cases with unidentified subjects still require further investigation.
With this new funding, TPD plans to use advanced DNA methodologies, including familial DNA searches, forensic genealogy, and phenotyping or ancestral analysis to investigate cold case sexual assaults and sexually motivated homicides.
TPD’s efforts will focus on three areas:
1.Maintaining a comprehensive inventory of all sexual assaults, sexually motivated homicides SAKs and evidence.
2. Reviewing and prioritizing cases for advanced DNA testing, then applying those methodologies to cases that require it and conducting follow-up investigations when possible.
3. Strengthening multidisciplinary working group relationships to ensure efficient testing, investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases while prevent future backlogging.
The project will also designate a single site coordinator with the authority to manage agency collaboration, analyze systems and advocate necessary changes.
Partners for this initiative include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Pima County Attorney’s Office, Pima County Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division, Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault and others.
