Local level SAEC policies/data (Denton, TX)

Vanessa Nason filed this request with the Denton Police Department of Denton, TX.
Submitted April 28, 2017
Est. Completion None
Status
Partially Completed

Communications

From: Vanessa Nason

Subject: Public Information Act Request: Local level SAEC policies/data (Denton, TX)

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To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information 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 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Nason

From: Denton Police Department

Subject: FW: Public Information Act Request: Local level SAEC policies/data (Denton, TX)

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Attached is the information you requested…

• all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process>This is what we have in our Evidence Training Manual (“how to” book) for our officers/detectives in the drop room (see attached).
• 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 ? We refer to our CCP Section Sec. 420.033. CHAIN OF CUSTODY. Medical, law enforcement, department, and laboratory personnel who handle sexual assault evidence under this chapter or other law shall maintain the chain of custody of the evidence from the time the evidence is collected until the time the evidence is destroyed.
We also refer to US Govt. Code 420.042 US Govt. Code Sec. 420.042. ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE. (a) A law enforcement agency that receives sexual assault evidence collected under this chapter or other law shall submit that evidence to a public accredited crime laboratory for analysis not later than the 30th day after the date on which that evidence was received.
(b) A person who submits sexual assault evidence to a public accredited crime laboratory under this chapter or other law shall provide the following signed, written certification with each submission: "This evidence is being submitted by (name of person making submission) in connection with a criminal investigation.“
We also refer to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.43
• the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed? 754 kits entered since 2002
• 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? Unknown at this time
• 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 ? Unknown at this time
• any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data.>DA’S office
• all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits? Since I have been here we have not been audited reference our SANE kits.
• all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits? NONE AT THIS TIME

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