Sexual assault kit

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A Sexual assault evidence kit, often referred to as a forensic exam or "sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit," is a set of items used by medical personnel for gathering evidence following a sexual assault. The purpose of a sexual assault kit is used in preserving physical evidence to be used in criminal proceedings. These kits have often been erroneously labeled as "rape kits". In the criminal justice system and in forensics, a "rape kit" is what a rapist uses to commit rape. A "rape kit" includes the bindings and materials a rapist uses to subdue a victim, and should not be used to describe the sexual assault evidence kit.

A sexual assault evidence kit contains commonly available examination tools such as cotton swabs, urine collection containers, sterile sample containers and sealable envelopes for holding physical evidence such as hair, semen, blood and body tissues. While not necessarily a dedicated part of a kit, necessary equipment such as a speculum and adjunct equipment such as a camera, colposcope, microscope and standard blood collection equipment should also be available.

[edit] Evidence collection in the United States

In the United States, a typical evidence collection process for sexual assault victims is:

• A nurse explains the hospital's HIV testing procedure and why HIV testing is beneficial. The victim then decides whether or not to permit HIV testing. In many states, there is no charge to the victim for these services.
• Routine blood collection is done (to check for pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases).
• The nurse documents any evidence of torn clothing or external injuries and takes photographs.
• The victim's clothing is collected and new clothes are provided.
• Any physical evidence from the rape scene (such as grass or leaves) is also collected.
• Hairs are collected: the nurse collects any loose hairs or debris in the pelvic area (looking for pubic hairs of the assailant). In some cases, some of the victim's pubic hairs are needed and 15-20 of the victim's head hairs (to differentiate the victim's hairs from the assailant's).
• Fingernail scrapings are collected for detection of blood or tissue.
• The nurse then examines the victim's perineum, thighs, abdomen, buttocks and facial area for evidence of semen and, if detected, it is collected.
• Several slides are made and swabs taken from the vaginal, anal, and oral areas to check for semen, sexually transmitted diseases, and infections.
• The hospital provides the victim with any preventive medicine necessary (for tetanus, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, etc.).
• Medical personnel perform the pelvic exam. The victim may request to have the examination done by a person of the same gender.

The sexual assault kit is then sealed in a box and secured at the hospital until given to the police for further laboratory analysis. For the box to be used in criminal proceedings, it is vital that the chain of custody and the integrity of the kit is preserved.

[edit] Sources

Some content for this entry taken from public domain material at aardvarc.org