Local level SAEC policies/data (Boulder Police Department)
| Submitted | April 21, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all statistics, data, reports, audits, policies, and procedures pertaining to the following items regarding sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kits (also known as "rape kits") and processing:
• all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process
• any written policies or procedures regarding department practices on the acquisition of or handling of rape kit evidence, including protocols for its collection, testing, and delegation and transfer to all other possibly relevant locations, laboratories, or agencies
• the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed
• the number of kits that have been processed by a public or private crime or forensic laboratory or equivalent processing location from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed
• the number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department’s jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations
• any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data.
• all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits
• all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits
If there any questions about this request, please feel free to call us at the MuckRock office at 617-299-1832.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Beryl Lipton
From: Spraggs, Andrea
Hello,
We have received your request for information and I have forwarded it on to the appropriate person to work on this. I will be your contact in the interim. I have attached our Data Request form and our current fee schedule. Please print, fill out and sign the Data Request form and email it to me. We will need that to proceed with your request.
Someone will be in touch with you next week regarding an estimated completion date of your request.
Thank you.
[http://andreadekker.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Andrea-signature-300x173.jpg]
Andrea Spraggs | Supervisor
Records and Information Services
[Police_lockup_COBLogo]
p (303) 441-4361
f (303) 441-4330
spraggsa@bouldercolorado.gov <mailto:spraggsa@bouldercolorado.gov>
Boulder Police Department
1805 33rd St | Boulder, CO 80301
www.bouldercolorado.gov<http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/>
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential information and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Unauthorized use, dissemination or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender by reply email and delete this message and its attachments, if any.
From: MuckRock
Hello Ms. Spraggs,
Thanks so much for your note. I've attached the requested form. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.
Best,
Beryl
From: Spraggs, Andrea
Hello,
I wanted to touch base regarding your request. Due to the magnitude of your request, this will take a while to compile. I’ve attached our research fee documentation as this may take hours to complete.
I have been informed that work will start on this request next week. I will provide more details as I receive them.
[http://andreadekker.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Andrea-signature-300x173.jpg]
Andrea Spraggs | Supervisor
Records and Information Services
[Police_lockup_COBLogo]
p (303) 441-4361
f (303) 441-4330
spraggsa@bouldercolorado.gov <mailto:spraggsa@bouldercolorado.gov>
Boulder Police Department
1805 33rd St | Boulder, CO 80301
www.bouldercolorado.gov<http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/>
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential information and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Unauthorized use, dissemination or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender by reply email and delete this message and its attachments, if any.
From: Beryl Lipton
Hello Ms. Spraggs,
Thanks so much for the update. I really appreciate the heads up on fees. I'll look forward to hearing from you again.
Best wishes,
Beryl
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 21, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Spraggs, David
Ms. Lipton,
I'm Sergeant David Spraggs with the City of Boulder Police. I am currently assigned as the property and evidence unit supervisor. I was asked to complete your records request dated 4/22/2017.
* The City of Boulder Police participates in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program that is administered at Boulder Community Health.
* Boulder Police Department Policies and Procedures are available online at: https://bouldercolorado.gov/police/resources-2
* I would direct you towards General Orders #203, #204 and #209.
* Boulder Police follows Colorado established protocols, specifically as outlined in Colorado House Bill 13-1020.
* Here is a helpful link from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/hb-13-1020
* Boulder PD has approximately 246 sexual assault exam kits in property and evidence that have been examined by a forensic laboratory.
* Boulder PD has approximately 84 sexual assault exam kits in property and evidence that have not been submitted (and most likely will not be submitted) to a forensic laboratory.
* There are numerous reasons for this. The reasons include, but are not limited to:
* The victim refused to have the sexual assault evidence kit submitted for testing.
* There was limited probative benefit in the forensic findings (an example would be a non-stranger sexual assault where the suspect/defendant didn't deny that sexual intercourse had taken place).
* The case was unfounded.
* Boulder PD has approximately 16 sexual assault exam kits awaiting review by the detective section.
* Some of these kits will be submitted and some will not be submitted for forensic testing.
* I cannot provide individual case dispositions.
* By established protocol the property and evidence sergeant (currently me) provides an audit to the detective commander and/or his designee every two weeks regarding sexual assault exam kits submitted to property and evidence.
* I am not aware of any proposed changes to sexual assault evidence protocol.
I generated the above listed statistics in about one hour. Therefore, there will no charge for this inquiry.
Sincerely,
David Spraggs
Sergeant
Bomb Technician
[Police_lockup_COBLogo]
O: 303-441-3283
spraggsd@bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:spraggsd@bouldercolorado.gov>
City of Boulder Police Department
1805 33rd Street | Boulder, CO 80301
Bouldercolorado.gov<http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/>
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