At the request of the National Institute of Justice, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) leads a comprehensive federal effort to organize and transfer knowledge and best practices of sexual assault. These practices are delivered to nurse examiners, sexual assault forensic examiners, and collaborative sexual assault response teams (SANE/SAFE/SART). This FTCOE effort focuses on systemic challenges that impede the investigation of criminal sexual assaults in the United States.
Specific goals are in place to create an awareness of resources and ensure that existing research, information, knowledge and best practices are available and accessible to all who contribute to the nation’s response to sexual assault.
Several recent federally sponsored roundtable discussions and forums have identified gaps in education and policies governing sexual assault response. This being said, further documentation and compilation of proven best practices in sexual assault response are still needed. Standardized protocols, guides and other resources exist for practitioners however, specific requirements, techniques, preferences and protocols can vary between state, local and tribal communities. To address the incongruent approaches of forensic sexual assault evidence collection, a system of knowledge-transfer and outreach will be established. This system will address strategies for developing more effective forensic sexual assault response practices.
These efforts are reflected through the federal meeting, practitioner meeting and policy forum. Documentation of these events and their final report are available below.
SANE/SAFE/SART Resources
• Introduction to Touch DNA Evidence for Sexual Assault Groping Cases Video Series
• The Multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Glossary
• Federal Meeting
• Practitioner Meeting
• Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium
• Policy Forum
• Final Report
• How Research and Technology Are Expanding Sexual Assault Kit Testing
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2023 National Forensic Science Week Interview Montage
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2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzles
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FLN-TWG: Proteomic Mass Spectrometry for Biology Fluid Identification
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Surviving Sexual Assault – It Takes A Village
This webinar originally occurred on April 11, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Listening to the experiences of sexual assault survivors is an important step to fully understand how the criminal justice system plays a pivotal role in a survivor’s journey…
Emerging Research in Forensic Biology
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on April 9, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Forensic science research and development plays a key role in the advancement of the practice of forensic science, as noted by the 2009 National…
Identification: Just a Modified Direct to DNA Approach to Sexual Assault Kit Testing
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: February 21, 2019 In episode three of our Identification season, Just Science interviews forensic biologist Caitlin Rogers. Forensic scientists are always looking to improve the efficiency and accuracy of sexual assault…
The Time to Collect is Now: DNA Evidence in Groping Sexual Assault Cases
This webinar originally occurred on February 27, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Improving the overall response to sexual assault includes understanding how touch DNA evidence impacts groping sexual assault cases. This webinar will illustrate the importance of these cases and…
In-Brief Report Series: Beyond DNA – Sexual Assault Investigations
Date January 2019 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is committed in their efforts to support scientific advancement, evidence-based practices, and community awareness of our Nation’s sexual assault response. As NIJ’s Director, Dr. David B. Muhlhausen, indicated, “our nation’s…
Investigating Sexual Assault of Elder Victims
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on January 22, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Sexual assault investigations within the elderly population require a unique and collaborative response. This webinar highlights strategies to improve support services and case outcomes…
Just FORESIGHT on Sexual Assault Kits
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: November 19, 2018 In episode three of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Dr. Paul Speaker from West Virginia University about the jurisdictional return on investment for DNA Databases. With…
Responding to Sexual Assault Victims of Color
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on November 29, 2018 Duration: 1 hour Overview A deeper understanding of the trauma experienced by people of color and its impact on their experience in the criminal justice system provides the…
A Landscape Study of SOPs to Collect and Process Arrestee and Convicted Offender DNA Samples
Date September 2018 Overview The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) is conducting a landscape study and root cause analysis which seeks to (1) identify factors that may result in potential barriers related to the collection, testing, and uploading of…
New SWGDAM Recommendations on Communicating Likelihood Ratios
This webinar originally occurred on October 18, 2018 Duration: 2 hours Overview SWGDAM recently issued recommendations on genotyping results reported as likelihood ratios, designed to promote consistency among laboratories. Members of the committee will discuss the recommendations and their foundations.…
Forensic Workforce Resiliency: Vicarious Trauma & Workplace Stress Webinar Series
Overview Professionals throughout the criminal justice system are exposed to the aftermath of violent crime and its victims. These individuals may include forensic nurses, crime scene investigators, forensic practitioners, medicolegal death investigators, and other professionals in related fields. Research has…
Improving Sexual Assault Response within Special Populations Webinar Series
Overview Creating a victim-centered response to sexual assault within special populations is a critical component of improving support services to victims, maintaining victim engagement in the criminal justice process, and improving sexual assault case outcomes. A victim’s first impression of…
Providing Gender Inclusive Care to Victims of Sexual Assault
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on August 30, 2018 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will discuss considerations to best serve sexual assault victims of LGBTQ community, particularly transgender survivors, and present case studies to illustrate gender…
Just Case Studies: Mel Hall – A Sexual Predator
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: September 4, 2017 For the second season of Just Science we will be delving into Case Studies. These case interviews include victim accounts, lawyers, investigators, and crime lab directors. They will…
Just the Facts About Campus Sexual Assault
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 12, 2017 In episode eight of Just Science, we spoke with Dr. Christopher Krebs, a Senior Research Social Scientist at RTI International. Dr. Krebs’ research has shed light on the problem of…
Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium
Overview The National Institute of Justice, the research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington, DC.…
2016 NSAPS: Panel 3 – Investigating Sexual Assault Webinar [Archival]
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. The panel highlighted the complexities of investigating sexual assault cases and…
2017 TechBeat Articles Featuring the FTCOE
FTCoE Opioid Webinar Series Shares Knowledge, Promotes Collaboration Issue: November 2017 Click here to read the article Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Launches Podcast Series Issue: July/August 2017 Pages: 8-10 Click here to read the article Optical Topography Report: Findings, Methodology, Recommendations Issue: May 2017 Pages: 8-13…
Organizing and Transferring SANE/SAFE/SART Knowledge and Best Practices
Date November 2014 Overview At the request of the National Institute of Justice, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) leads a comprehensive federal effort to organize and transfer knowledge and best practices of sexual assault nurse examiners, sexual assault forensic…
Multidisciplinary Sexual Violence Glossary
About the Multidisciplinary Sexual Violence Glossary The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) in collaboration with the Center for Nursing Excellence International (CFNEI) has developed a sexual violence online glossary for medical, law enforcement, and legal professionals. Effective communication among…
Webinar: Investigating Sexual Violence – Policy Forum: Emerging Solutions and Best Practices [Archival]
Overview This is the archival version of a two-hour Policy and Practices Forum which brings together experienced and knowledgeable subject matter experts in various fields contributing to the investigation and processing of cases involving sexual violence. The investigation of sexual…
Webinar: Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) Workshop [Archival]
Overview This is the archival version of the two-day workshop hosted by the SOFT Continuing Education and Drug-Facilitated Crimes Committees with the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault on August 11-12, 2014 in Washington DC.…
Webinar: Best Practices – Sexual Assault Investigations Policy Forum [Archival]
Overview This forum focused on emerging techniques and developments associated with evidence collection training, evidence analysis utilizing Y-STR capabilities and victim-centric care approaches (e.g., understanding the neurobiology of the victim in sexual assault). Presentations in this forum discussed development of…
Webinar: Best Practices in Sexual Assault Cases [Archival]
Overview In the ongoing struggle to protect would-be victims from sexual predators, great advances are being made in forensic nursing research and practice, from strangulation assessment to the photographic documentation of injuries and beyond. Valerie Krasneski-Schreiber, unit director of the…
Webinar: 2016 NSAPS Panel 7 – Testing Sexual Assault Evidence [Archival]
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. Panelists took a look inside evidence testing and decision making at…
Webinar: 2016 NSAPS Panel 4 – Legislative Reform on Sexual Assault [Archival]
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. This panel discussed new legislative and policy reforms undertaken or underway…
2016 NSAPS Panel 2 – Victim-Centered Approaches
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. The audience learned how first responders such as medical staff, victims’…
2016 NSAPS Panel 1 – Immediate Aftermath of Sexual Assault
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. This panel provided an overview of how a traumatic event like…