The City of Boston FY 21 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)

Proposal Abstract:
 

The City of Boston (COB), Boston Police Department (BPD), is applying for a $2,500,000 dollar FY 2021 SAKI grant that will begin October 2021, and operate for 3 years.  This grant will further the mission of the BJA to improve Boston’s capacity to respond to violent crime, and the functioning of its criminal justice (CJ) system - through the investigation and prosecution of cases resulting from SAK evidence and the collection of lawfully owned DNA.  Components of the proposed strategy include:

The development of a Multidisciplinary Working Group (MWG), led by the BPD’s Sexual Assault Unit and made up of internal and external CJ partners, including the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; as well as service providers who specialize in supporting victims of sexual assault (BARCC & SANE);
The review, inventory and follow up investigation of up to 100 unsolved sexual assault cases that pose the most significant threat to public safety;
The hiring of a full time SAKI Site Director, Criminologist and Victim Witness Advocate;
Contracting of an Evaluation Consultant, and an external Crime Lab to further testing of available DNA; 
The development of a Training Plan that includes: VICAP case submissions, interpretation of genealogical testing and trauma informed training for various criminal justice personnel - to improve the ways in which CJ personal work with victims of sexual assault; and
The development of an Evaluation Plan and Sustainability Plan, for ongoing improvements and sustainability of the MWG.  

The service area will include 16 COB neighborhoods; with a population of 692,600, of which 18.9% represent persons living in poverty, 20.9% are under 18, 56% are non-white, 28.3% are foreign born and 37.7% speak English as a second language. Victims of sexual assault who have outstanding unsolved cases will benefit from this proposed project.