Just Standardizing Sexual Assault Kits

Maureen Platt has served as the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury since 2011. She served as the Chairperson for the Commission on the Standardization of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations from 2009-2020.

Denise S. Covington (MBA, MSN, RN, SANE-A) is a board-certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults and Adolescents, with a background in emergency nursing. In 2010, Ms. Covington was hired by the Connecticut Judicial Branch, Office of Victim Services to develop, implement and manage a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) Program for the purpose of ensuring skilled, professional and trauma-informed treatment of patients who report a sexual assault within Connecticut’s acute care hospitals. Ms. Covington is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), and served as the organization’s 2020 President.

Danielle Lindgren joined the CT Division of Scientific Services in December 2018 as a member of the DNA unit. Since that time she has served as the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Site Coordinator as well as the point of contact for Sexual Assault case communication for the Forensic Biology and DNA Units.  As the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Site Coordinator, Danielle and has overseen the collection and collation of all project data and metrics to report to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Working Group.  This includes the oversight of outreach, training and community education for law enforcement, prosecutors and victim’s advocates on current policies and procedures surrounding sexual assault cases. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Forensic Science from Syracuse University.

Bonnie R. Bentley is a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. From 1993 through 2003, in addition to her work as a prosecutor, Attorney Bentley led the work of the Commission on the Standardization of Evidence Collection in Sexual Assault Investigations, including the development of Connecticut’s first customized sexual assault evidence kit and forms, Technical Guidelines for Health Care Response to Victims of Sexual Assault, and training materials. Attorney Bentley’s prosecution work has focused on sexual assault, domestic violence, arson, and animal cruelty cases.