Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Grant

Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Grant -

  • In October 2017, CJCC received a $3M grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. These funds will support the enhancement of Georgia’s initiatives to best serve survivors of sexual assault through a coordinated and victim-centered response.
  • Specifically, funding from this grant will be used to create a Metro Atlanta Sexual Assault Task Force to address the downstream investigations and prosecutions of cold case sexual assaults that have resulted from testing of previously unsubmitted or untested sexual assault kits.

Click here to read the full press release.

Recent Legislation Related to Sexual Assault Kits

  • In 2016, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 304. This legislation was signed by the Governor and requires:
    • Law enforcement must take possession of SAKs within 96 hours.
    • Law enforcement must submit SAKs to the GBI within 30 days.
    • If a Forensic Medical Exam (FME) was performed prior to July 1, 2016, law enforcement must take possession of evidence and submit that to GBI by August 31, 2016. (As a result, 2,421 SAKs were submitted).
    • GBI’s Forensic Science Division must issue an annual report of SAKs waiting testing to the Governor’s Office and General Assembly beginning December 1, 2016.