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

Minutes - September 16, 2019
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Attendance:  Beth Hamilton, Brian Narkewicz, Patricia Moriarty, Linda Cimino, Marielle Daniels, Monica Polzella, Candida Fusco, Patti LaMonica, Karen Jubanyik, M.D., John Leventhal, M.D., Kristin Sasinowski, Brenda Hans

The meeting was called to order at 3:01 p.m.

The minutes from the June 17, 2019, meeting were reviewed and approved. (Narkewicz, Daniels)

Linda Cimino provided the Bill Paying Subcommittee report. She indicated that we are within our budget for the fiscal period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019. For the time period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, we are currently  on track and have expended approximately one-fourth of our budget. The Bill Paying Subcommittee will meet in the near future to discuss finances. The Commission members received two handouts detailing expenditures for both fiscal periods.

Marielle Daniels gave a report on the “Consent for Minors” clarifications that are proposed for the technical guidelines. Members of the Commission received a handout of the proposed language. The Commission agreed to review the proposal and email an opinion to approve or disapprove the language to Chairperson, Maureen Platt no later than September 23, 2019. It was agreed that Marielle Daniels as well as Dr. John Leventhal should also be included in the email correspondence.

Linda Cimino provided a thorough overview of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program. She indicated that hospitals are enthusiastic to send healthcare providers to receive training in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. The candidates for the class consist primarily of Register Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses but Physician Assistants are also welcome. The tracking system for the kits is working well and identifies the hospital that each kit is located and how many kits are at that location at any given time. Per a memorandum of understanding, we’ve made a commitment to train those identified hospital staff who wish to participate in this program. 

Kristen Sasinowski reported on the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program. The 2015 kits are completed and the testing for the 2017 kits is currently underway. She indicated that due to the streamlined process, DNA results are being obtained more quickly. She discussed the issue of tracking these kits as well training staff to dispose of only the expired blood tubes and replacing them within the rest of the kit. There was also a discussion of a draft form to enable victims to track their own kit.

There will be a SAKI Conference on October 1, 2019, for medical professionals, prosecutors,  and law enforcement at the Connecticut State Police Academy, which is located at 285 Preston Avenue in Meriden. Dr. White from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as well as others will provide a presentation on this topic. The conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm.

There was a brief roundtable discussion of the “#MeToo” sexual assault kits that are currently being produced and marketed by a private corporation. It was agreed that further discussions will occur on this topic at the next meeting.

There was a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Brian Narkewicz and seconded by Marielle Daniels.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 pm.