Through the proposed initiative, the allegheny county police will partner with the allegheny county district attorneys office, the allegheny county medical examiner, local victim advocacy groups,…

The County of Allegheny Executive Office Division was awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance under the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program (CFDA 16.833). The 36-month grant, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026, will support the county's efforts to standardize sexual assault investigations and improve victim-centered approaches. Key activities include: inventorying unsubmitted sexual assault kits, convening a multidisciplinary working group, and designating a site coordinator. This funding will help Allegheny County partner with the District Attorney's Office, Medical Examiner, victim advocacy groups, and sexual assault nurse examiners to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of sexual assault investigations amid an anticipated increase in case volume. The grant is expected to address challenges associated with unsubmitted sexual assault kits and unresolved violent crime cold cases in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Through the proposed initiative, the allegheny county police will partner with the allegheny county district attorneys office, the allegheny county medical examiner, local victim advocacy groups, and local sexual assault nurse examiners to standardize sexual assault investigation in allegheny county to improve the efficiency of investigations and to ensure a victim centered approach. With the anticipated influx of case investigations resulting from outsourced testing under the 2019 saki funding and inquiries through the victim outreach portal, allegheny county recognizes the need to further support investigative agencies and advocacy groups as they add these cases to their already hefty caseloads. The proposed project will follow the three main elements of the BJA model: inventory, a multidisciplinary working group, and a designated site coordinator. Allegheny county is proposing this project in response to purpose area 1: comprehensive approach to unsubmitted sexual assault kits under the FY2023 saki competitive grant announcement. Allegheny county projects a budget of $958,497 and an estimated timetable of 36 months (october 1, 2023, to september 30, 2026) for successful completion of the proposed effort.