2022 Spring MBCC Program Highlights - Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)

• March 18 2022

The Montana Board of Crime Control is pleased to announce the Spring 2022 Program Highlights recipient:

Montana Department of Justice (DOJ)
Sexual Assault Kiti Initiative (SAKI)

The Board of Directors honored Kayla Bragg, Bryan Fischer, and Dana Toole with the Certificate of Outsanding Program at the March 2022 Board Meeting. Kayla, the SAKI Site Coordinator for the State of Montana, gave an informative presentation on the exemplary work SAKI has done in reducing the backlog of untested and partially tested rape kits, developing and improving sexual assault response training, fostering a sexual assault response network, and enhancing responses to survivors of sexual assault.

The Montana Department of Justice (MT DOJ) Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program has become a statewide resource and dedicated partner for sexual assault responders.

Montana has been a recipient of the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grant since 2016. SAKI was designed to end the rape kit backlog, identify strategies to prevent another backlog from accumulating, develop and improve sexual assault response training, and fundamentally enhance responses to survivors of sexual assault. 

MT DOJ SAKI works to end the backlog of untested and partially tested rape kits by utilizing SAKI funding to identify, collect, and test backlogged rape kits. SAKI works with jurisdictions to review backlogged cases and conduct survivor notifications. Partnering with local jurisdictions and advocacy groups, SAKI connects survivors to community resources and support services that meet their needs.

MT DOJ SAKI also pursues sustainable practices by working on legislative reform. In 2019, Montana passed a sexual assault evidence kit testing law, expanded victim rights for sexual assault victims, and implemented requirements to track sexual assault evidence kits. The Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System allows individuals to learn the status of their sexual assault kit anonymously. Law enforcement agencies, healthcare facilities, and crime laboratories are required to use the system; and SAKI provides technical support and training for hospitals and law enforcement agencies related to tracking sexual assault kits. Montana's kit tracking system has allowed MT DOJ SAKI to identify sexual assault evidence kit workflows, develop accountability, and educate on the importance of testing.

In addition, SAKI offers training for responders of sexual assault, collaborates with the Montana Law Enforcement Academy to train basic officers in sexual assault response, and has developed free, online sexual assault response training courses. SAKI also released an Investigating Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Guide, which provides officers a resource in the field. Training not only teaches best practices in the sexual assault response, but the importance of taking care of yourself as a responder.

The MT DOJ SAKI program is a diverse program and has even assisted in cases beyond the sexual assault kit. For example, MT DOJ SAKI worked with local jurisdictions to fund advanced DNA testing in cold case sexually motivated homicides and unidentified remains cases.

MT DOJ SAKI has organically fostered a sexual assault response network by discussing the problems, identifying solutions, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to adopt sustainable best practices in Montana.

For more information, please visit the MT DOJ SAKI webpage and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation webpage.

• Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Brochure
• MBCC 2022 Spring Program Highlights SAKI Presentation