Step One: Hospitals collect Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kits. Local law enforcement pick up the reported kits and submit them to the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Forensic Laboratory within 30 days.

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Step Two: The kit is screened for the presence of DNA and a report is written that details what items, if any, will go forward for DNA testing. If the screening process yields NO items for DNA testing and there are pubic hair combings in the kit, the kit will be transferred to the Trace Chemistry Section for hair comparison analysis.

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Step Three: KSP analysts conduct DNA analysis on the screened kits. ​Results are compiled and written into a summary report. If any DNA profiles are obtained, they will be compared to the DNA profiles of the victim and the suspect.

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Step Four: KSP analysts technically review each lab report. A KSP casework analyst ensures DNA profiles - when available - were correctly obtained, and that the case history for the profile meets all of the eligibility requirements established by the FBI for uploading into the national DNA database.

 

​For cases in which NO DNA profiles were obtained, KSP notifies the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction and instructs the investigator to contact the survivor and notify the individual that his or her kit was tested and that no DNA was obtained.

 

​Step Five: KSP forensic analyst or Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) administrator confirms eligibility for and enter profiles into CODIS. 

 

Step Six: Eligible profiles are uploaded into the state database (SDIS). Every night, the approved, eligible profiles are uploaded into the state database and searched against it.

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Step Seven: Eligible profiles are uploaded to the national database (NDIS) from the state database. Two days a week, the national database reaches down and uploads the data from the state database. If there are no immediate hits, KSP notifies local law enforcement and an investigator is instructed to contact the survivor with the results. The profile remains in the databases for a potential future match, also known as a hit, to an offender (offender hit) or evidence from one or more unsolved cases (forensic hit). ​Any hits that result are sent to the KSP Database Section through the CODIS network.

 

Step Eight: Offender DNA, fingerprints verified. When DNA from a SAFE kit hits to DNA from an offender, KSP pulls the offender's DNA sample and tests it again to verify it matches the profile in the hit. KSP also verifies a thumb print that was taken at the time the offender DNA sample was collected matches to the offender. KSP also verifies through court records and criminal histories that the offense for which the DNA sample was collected from the offender is an eligible/qualifying offense. This process is expected to take 2-3 weeks.

 

​Step Nine: Lab sends hit letters to law enforcement, prosecutor. When evidence from a SAFE kit hits to DNA in the databases (and offender DNA is verified), KSP sends a letter to the investigating agency and local prosecutor notifying them of a hit. Every law enforcement agency has a policy for notifying victims of testing results. Law enforcement should work with community advocates to determine a plan for conducting the notification. Law enforcement and prosecutors also should work together to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to open the cold case and pursue criminal charges.

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Source: Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory, 2020