The Impact of Statewide Reform on the Submission and Testing of Sexual Assault Kits

• In Event: Victimology Research-to-Practice: Contemporary Issues and Innovations

Abstract

In 2017, the Kentucky Legislature passed and implemented Senate Bill 63 (SB 63) which aimed to reform responses to sexual assault victims. A portion of this bill mandated that law enforcement agencies submit all sexual assault forensic examination kits (SAFE kits) to the state crime laboratory for testing, and that all SAFE kits be tested within 90 days. This study uses time series analysis to evaluate the impact of SB 63 on SAFE kit submission and testing times. We analyze data on SAFE kits submitted to the state crime laboratory (N = ~10,000) between July 2007 and February 2018 to assess the effects of SB 63. Results, policy implications, and future research directions will be discussed.

Authors

• David S. Lapsey, University of Louisville

• Bradley Campbell, University of Louisville