Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting | Apply Online

FAQs: Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting (NIJ 2016 9088)

What is the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting grant (NIJ 2016 9088)?

It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ). The program is focused on helping jurisdictions identify and document how many sexual assault kits (SAKs) they have that are untested or were never submitted for testing, and on building or strengthening systems to track those kits from collection through processing and testing.

What problem is this program trying to solve?

The program targets the lack of reliable information and consistent practices around unanalyzed sexual assault kits. The announcement highlights that there is no reliable national count of unanalyzed SAKs and that many agencies still do not have consistent, computerized methods to track where a kit is, what has been done with it, and what steps remain.

Why are sexual assault kits (SAKs) specifically emphasized?

While sexual assault evidence can include many items (such as weapons, bedding, and clothing), SAKs are emphasized because they typically contain biological and trace evidence collected from a victim, along with other physical evidence. When properly tested and documented, this evidence can help corroborate that a crime occurred, identify or rule out a suspect, and potentially connect an offender to other crimes.

What happens when kits are not tracked well or remain untested?

The opportunity notes that when kits sit untested or are poorly tracked, cases can stall, investigative leads can be missed, and public confidence in the justice process can be undermined.

Where might sexual assault kits be stored, and why does that matter for an inventory?

SAKs may be stored in multiple locations depending on local practice and case flow, including crime laboratories, police department evidence rooms, hospitals, and clinics. Because storage is often decentralized, inventories can be incomplete and chain of custody or processing status can be unclear, especially when recordkeeping is manual or fragmented.

What are the main goals of the grant-funded work?

The program is intended to improve accountability and transparency around the collection, submission, processing, and testing of SAKs, particularly those that are untested or unsubmitted. It supports efforts that bring visibility and order by funding inventories and improved tracking and reporting practices.

What core activities does the program support?

The opportunity describes three core areas jurisdictions are expected to strengthen: (1) conducting a thorough inventory to identify relevant SAKs that are untested or not submitted, regardless of storage location; (2) establishing or enhancing tracking systems, especially computerized systems, to monitor kits reliably through each stage; and (3) producing consistent reporting so kit status is visible and measurable.

Does the program focus only on untested kits, or also on kits never submitted for testing?

It covers both. The grant is designed to help jurisdictions determine how many SAKs remain untested and how many were never submitted for testing, and to improve tracking across the full lifecycle from collection through processing and testing.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally means NIJ expects active involvement and collaboration during the project period rather than a hands-off relationship.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

How many awards does NIJ expect to make?

The program anticipates making around 10 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is up to $5,000,000.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted and created on March 15, 2016. The closing date was May 31, 2016, and the original and current closing dates match.

What agency is administering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ).

What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this program?

The associated Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.741.

What is the activity category for this program?

The activity category listed is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

Is the program intended to create a national count of untested SAKs?

The announcement highlights that there is no reliable national count of unanalyzed SAKs. The program is designed to help jurisdictions create clear, documented local inventories and improve tracking and reporting, which reduces uncertainty about the scale of untested SAKs and strengthens accountability and transparency.

What does "tracking and reporting" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this opportunity, tracking and reporting refers to implementing or improving practices (especially computerized systems) that allow jurisdictions to monitor where a kit is in the process (from collection to processing and testing) and to produce consistent reports that make the status of kits visible and measurable.

Why does the opportunity emphasize computerized methods?

The program notes that many agencies lack consistent, computerized methods and may rely on manual or fragmented recordkeeping. Computerized tracking is emphasized as a way to monitor kits reliably through each stage and reduce confusion about location, status, and remaining steps.