Commission on the Standardization of the Collection of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations

Minutes - December 15, 2008

Statutory Members present were Chair Patricia Froehlich, Michael Custer, Marielle Daniels, Candida Fusco, Paul Heon, Nancy Kushins, John Leventhal, and Michelle Noehren.

Non-Statutory Members present were Elizabeth Cafarella, Jennifer Milette, Elaine Pagliaro, and Judith Rossi.

Guest: Nina Livingston, M.D.

Membership Update: David D’Amora has appointed Nancy Kushins as the representative for Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, who will replace Laura Cordes on the commission. Robert Allensworth has been appointed the representative for Department of Children and Families.

Dr. Nina Livingston presented research findings regarding the collection of sexual assault evidence in child sexual assault cases.

The Commission members agreed to invite a representative from Massachusetts to a future meeting to present information regarding the creation of a pediatric evidence collection kit.

The Commission members agreed to begin drafting a training bulletin for distribution to law enforcement officers regarding Dr. Livingston’s presentation and the collection of evidence in child sexual assault cases.

The Commission discussed and agreed upon revisions to the Technical Guidelines. All members present at the meeting agreed to remove contact information for the Community-based sexual assault crisis centers and include only the Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline number which automatically redirects all incoming calls to the nearest center.

The Commission members will review the guidelines for revisions and will submit any changes by January 30, 2009. Secretary Jennifer Milette will remind members not later than January 23, 2009 of this agreement.

The next commission meeting will be on February 23, 2009, This meeting will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, 300 Corporate Place, Rocky Hill, CT.