Local level SAEC policies/data (Dedham, Massachusetts)
| Submitted | April 28, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Vanessa Nason
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, 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 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Nason
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 28, 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: Michael J D'Entremont
Response will be out today. This is Day 10.
Sent from my iPhone
From: John Rinn
?
Vanessa Nason, MuckRock
DEPT MR 36931
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
May 12, 2017
Dear Ms. Nason,
I am in receipt of your Public Records Law Request pursuant to M.G.L. c. 66 s 10, dated April 28, 2017 which requests:
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
The Dedham Police Department is in possession of records responsive to your request. Attached please find the following records:
With regards to all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process attached please find Dedham Police Department polices 3-31 Rape Sexual Assault Investigations and 3-41Collecting and Preservation of Evidence;
With regards to 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 attached please find Dedham Police Department polices 3-31 Rape Sexual Assault Investigations and 3-41Collecting and Preservation of Evidence.
With regards to the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed. The Dedham Police Department has collected 36 such kits.
With regard to 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. 17 such kits have been processed.
With regards to 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. There are 19 such kits.
With regards to any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data. Attached please find copies of Dedham Police Department reports for applicable cases. Certain information has been redacted in accordance with exemption (a) the statutory exemption. More specifically related to MGL CH 41 s 98F and/or 97D.
With regards to all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits. The Dedham Police Department is not in possession of records responsive to this request.
With regards to all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits. The Dedham Police Department is not in possession of records responsive to this request.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Officer John Rinn
Records Access Officer
From: MuckRock
Thank you! I was just wondering if you have any data on the following:
• 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
From: John Rinn
May 16 2017
Dear Ms. Nason,
I am in receipt of your follow up request.
With regards to the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed the only data I have is that there are 36 such kits.
With regards to 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 only data I have is that there are 17 kits which have been processed.
With regards to 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, the only data I have is that there are 19 such kits.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Officer John Rinn
Records Access Officer
From: MuckRock
What constitutes your backlog? Are there kits that you do not require to be tested?
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