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

Minutes of the Meeting of December 8, 2014
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

In Attendance: Maureen Platt, Chair, Jim Kenny, John Leventhal, M.D., Nikki Seymour, Laura Cordes, Denise Covington, Kristin Loranger, Patti LaMonica, Linda Cimino, Monica Polzella

The Meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m.

The minutes from the December 15, 2014, meeting were reviewed and approved with one correction, Chief Kenny's name was inadvertently typed as "Kerry."

Linda Cimino gave the report for the Bill Paying Subcommittee. She reported that the fund is currently operating within its allocated budget and attributed this to changes made in the reimbursement schedule instituted two years ago by the Commission. Dr. Leventhal complimented the Office of Victim Services for its professionalism and competency in handling claims. There was some discussion that additional funding may someday be needed to provide for uniform compensation for forensic physical examinations of child sexual assault victims.

Denise Covington gave the report for the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program. She reported that the program has had a very busy fall season and continues to operate in six hospitals throughout the state. Several members discussed the need for an expansion of the program to more hospitals throughout the state. Denise stated that she went to a meeting last week attended by several other SAFE coordinators from nearby states where the various coordinators compared the programs offered by the different states.

Laura Cordes updated the group about the survey currently being conducted concerning the retention of sexual assault kits by law enforcement agencies. She reported that most departments have already sent in their surveys, and that efforts are underway to insure that every law enforcement agency in the state sends in its survey response. Members discussed how to best amend the guidelines to provide proper guidance to police agencies in the handling of the kits. It was also discussed that efforts must be made to test many kits that have never been submitted to the state laboratory and gain information as to why these kits were never tested. It was agreed that a special Commission meeting should be held in February to discuss the survey results and the Commission's response.

The members agreed that the Commission will meet during 2015 on the following dates:

• February 23, 2015
• March 16, 2015
• June 15, 2015
• September 21, 2015
• December 7, 2015

All meetings will be held from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney, 300 Corporate Place, Rocky Hill.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 pm.