Who is NIJ —National Institute of Justice. The research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Advance scientific research,development and evaluation to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. Also to improve knowledge, understanding of crime and justice issues through science.
NIJ Recently Published “Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting – SAFER” – A project initiated in 2014 is now successfully worked along with 50 National experts developed and published with:
- 35 recommendations to process the DNA Evidences
- 15 Key Principles for Developing Victim Notification protocol
- Federal Government Recommendations for:
- Sexual Assault in College Campuses
- Sexual Assault in Indian Country
- Sexual Assault in Military
- Sexual Assault in Prison
- Throughput process flow for SAK’s
- Outsourcing SAK’s standards and Checklists
- Clear flow of Victim Notification process
Now let’s understand some basic things and what SAFER focuses?
“What is a sexual assault kit (SAK)? – A sexual assault kit (SAK) is a package of materials used to collect samples (evidence) from the victim’s or suspect’s body by a medical professional, often a medical-forensic examiner, such as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)”
Workflow of SAK:
It’s mainly focuses on protocols which should be focused while processing the DNA Evidences collection
History of DNA Collection
The SAFER segregated as 6 Chapters with 35 recommendations. The guidelines will focus on a multidisciplinary approach to SAK’s which precisely help all multidisciplinary communities
Trauma-Informed & Victim- Centered approach to safeguard any victims who undergone a sexual assault which really brings the humanity to the world and the victim to back to his / her life
Involving victim-advocacy as early as possible to proceed with law enforcement and to take criminal justice processes
Standardized Focused and Precise guidelines on how, when, where, whom & timing given for evidence collection to do the medical forensics examinations
Recommended to have EMR’s – Electronic Medical Records for all cases along with HIPAA compliance and other necessary security policies implied
Any investigations “Chain of Custody” is very important, where inside attackers can change the “Artifacts / modify the records”. Chain of custody is given in clear fashion
Based on NIJ advice for Electronic Evidence exchange “Federal government” should develop a DATA Standard for evidence collections. Future all the SAK evidences should be NIEM [National Information Exchange Model] Compliant to use the collected evidence in order to prove the criminal act. Which brings a new compliance feature to the Forensic Investigation
Transferring and Temporary storage matrix released along with Temperature details to contain the evidences integrity
LIMS – Laboratory Information Management System will be used to transfer all the evidence and DNA samples to be processed in electronic way with more security manner with backup-up plans along with specialized IT-Experts
Robotics and automation will be incorporated for efficient high-through put accurate results
Turn Around Time for Laboratory given to generate the eligible CODIS DNA record at the earliest to search in “NDIS,SDIS and LDIS”
Detailed view of SAFER can be obtained from published link NIJ-SAFER
Hope thus clears that, more focused multidisciplinary approach should help and make the victim to get the justice. No more untouched or contaminated, modified forensic investigation results can be submitted to jurisdiction.
We should be really appreciating NIJ for carrying and taking most importance steps towards justice. This should be helping the victims to change their infected world.
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