SAKI Virtual Academy offers online trainings and resources to help improve jurisdictions’ capacity to investigate, prosecute, inventory, and track sexual assault kits (SAKs) and provide trauma-informed victim services and advocacy.
Learn about the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) and the top five reasons it is important to submit unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs) for
testing.
This brief video will introduce you to the SAKI Virtual Academy and the valuable online courses that are available to you.
Please click the video title above to access the video.
Developing a
testing plan for unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs) is a critical step in the legal process. This curriculum presents three modules that review the key sections of a testing plan, which
disciplines should be involved in plan development, and the different methods for testing SAK submissions.
Please click the curriculum title to access the modules.
Discover SAKI’s
promising practices for investigating cold case sexual assaults. This curriculum presents five modules that review how to establish your new case file; apply a victim-centered,
trauma-informed approach to case review; engage a multidisciplinary team
in case assessment; and remain aware of and avoid inherent biases. The
curriculum also covers some basic steps and questions for developing an
investigation checklist or plan for your cold case.
Please click the curriculum title to access the modules.
A Victim Notification Protocol is essential to cold case sexual assault investigation and victim healing.
This curriculum offers six modules that present information and resources to help jurisdictions develop and implement a Victim Notification Protocol. These modules focus on using a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to victim engagement. The modules review information on the key sections that should be included in a protocol, which professionals to involve in protocol development, and steps for executing the protocol in the field.
Please click the curriculum title above to access the modules.
You have the
SAK testing results—so what do you do now?
This curriculum presents four modules that review general
information on DNA profiles, SAK testing results, and CODIS, as well as
specific steps for conducting investigative follow up of cold case sexual assaults
once testing results are received. In the past, specific challenges may have
led jurisdictions to underestimate the importance of testing SAKs or the need
for a thorough investigation of these cases. This curriculum outlines steps
investigators can take for each type of SAK testing result (i.e., No DNA, No Hit, Forensic Hit,
and Offender Hit).
Please click the curriculum title to access the modules.
Prosecutors
have unique considerations when working cold case sexual assaults. In this course,
you will focus on working with victims and understanding past trauma and
potential re-traumatization through a cold case’s renewed investigation. You
will also explore key strategies for prosecutors to proactively address common evidentiary
challenges of cold case sexual assaults.
Please click the curriculum title to access the modules.