Commission on the Standardization of the Collection of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations
Minutes of the Meeting of March 18, 2019
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Attendance: Maureen Platt Chair, Marielle Daniels, Jim Kerry, Patti LaMonica, Laura Varelas, Lucy Nolan, Karen Jubaniyk, M.D., Kristin Sasinouski, Denise Covington, John Leventhal, M.D., Linda Cimino
The Meeting was called to order at 3:02 p.m.
The minutes from the December meeting were reviewed and approved. (Kerry/LaMonica).
Linda Cimino gave the Bill Paying Subcommittee report. She stated that to date we have 28.4% of the total funds allocated remaining for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. Dr. Leventhal brought up the fact that the rate of hospital reimbursement has remained the same for several years. It was agreed that the Commission will discuss the appropriate rate of reimbursement for health care facilities at our September meeting.
Denise Covington gave the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) report. She stated that there are currently 27 SAFEs actively working and that four nurses are about to begin training. It was further stated that the SAFES have been activated 170 times during this current fiscal year and that 126 of these cases were accepted. In approximately 20 of these cases, the survivor of the assault declined to consent to the examination after the SAFE arrived.
Linda Cimino reported on substitute Senate Bill 796, An Act Concerning Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners. This bill attempts to standardize the requirements necessary to be declared a SAFE.
Kristin Sasinouski reported on the progress of the SAKI grants. She stated that all of the older kits have been tested under the original grant. She further stated that the partially tested kits are now being processed, and have been out sourced to hasten the results. Lastly, she told the group that the proposed 2019 SAKI grant will allow further testing regarding older sexual assaults to aid in determining assailants, and that currently police departments have been contacted to gain information regarding possible cases.
Laura Varlas reported that victim notification is almost complete for the victims of the older cases in the first SAKI grant.
Laura Varelas also reported on the Subcommittee regarding notification of victims concerning the testing of the CT-100 kits. She and others stated that the language proposed by the subcommittee for inclusion in the Technical Guidelines needed revision to make it more appropriate and easier to understand before it is adopted by the Commission. Laura Varelas was voted the new Chairperson of this Subcommittee (Cimino/Kenny).
The meeting was adjourned at 4:27 p.m. (Kenny/Daniels).