A New Approach to Utilizing Evidence from Sexual Assault Kits in Texas: Benefits and Costs of a Universal Testing Statute, 1996-2011 (ICPSR 38096)

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Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The purpose of this study regarding the quantitative analysis was abstracting data on investigative outcomes and reasons for outcomes for Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit cases. The qualitative analysis focused on determining the costs imposed on agencies by the requirements of Texas statute 1636.

Study Design View help for Study Design

In the work for NIJ, the research team worked with police agencies in Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Austin to determine the dispositions of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hits from the group of previously untested kits, including the following:

Abstracting Data from Law Enforcement Files:

Each of the five law enforcement agencies the research team worked with created a database for CODIS hits that were returned by the state Department of Public Safety. The research team had asked that the databases include information on the current status of the case (under investigation, open but no ongoing investigation, arrest made, under prosecution, convicted, or closed without further investigation). For cases that were closed without investigation (the large majority), the research team asked that databases indicate a reason for the lack of further investigation. Only Austin produced a dataset with detailed information. For the other sites, the research team had to reconstruct outcomes of COSI hits, but did not have the level of detail anticipated.

Interviews with sexual Assault Detectives and Prosecutors:

The research team interviewed sexual assault detectives and prosecutors who work with CODIS in order to determine the costs imposed on agencies by the requirements of SB1636. These included time spent reviewing the case file; contacting victims; tracking down the location of suspects; interviewing any witnesses or medical experts; interviewing suspects, and other activity.

Sample View help for Sample

Texas was selected for this sample as it was one of the first states to enact legislation mandating universal testing of sexual assault kits. Texas Senate Bill 1636 represented a fundamental change for sexual assault victims in the state. One of the requirements of the Texas law was that all untested sexual assault kits (where the statute of limitations had not been reached at the time the law went into effect) had to be submitted for laboratory DNA analysis. The statute required law enforcement agencies across the state to report how many sexual assault kits (SAKs) remained untested in their custody by October 15, 2011, and to submit all evidence connected to an "active criminal case" to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) or another accredited public laboratory. DPS, in turn, was tasked with developing DNA profiles and uploading them to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The law required DPS to report the numbers of SAKs across the state and to request the funding necessary to test all kits. In 2013, an audit revealed Texas had over 18,000 untested sexual assault kits statewide. As a result, Texas, with its 18,000 untested kits collected by DPS provided an excellent sample opportunity to determine the value of testing old SAKs in which law enforcement agencies apparently saw insufficient merit in testing at the time of the report. The Police Foundation worked with police agencies in Dallas, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, and Austin to examine cases with CODIS hits (DNA matches to a person or crime) from the group of previously untested kits.

Time Method View help for Time Method

Universe View help for Universe

Police agencies in Dallas, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas with previously untested sexual assault kits.

Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation

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Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

The variables in this study describe sexual assault cases connected to sexual assault kit evaluations. The variables include demographics of victim and suspect, Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) association, and overall case outcomes.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

Not applicable.

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

None.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2023-11-29

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Not applicable.