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How much justice is denied? An estimate of unsubmitted sexual assault kits in the United States

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Listed:
  • Strom, Kevin
  • Scott, Thomas
  • Feeney, Hannah
  • Young, Amanda
  • Couzens, Lance
  • Berzofsky, Marcus

Abstract

Prior national, state, and local investigations of law enforcement agencies have revealed large stockpiles of sexual assault kits (SAKs) that were not submitted to a laboratory for forensic testing. The failure to submit these SAKs has resulted in incomplete investigations for sexual assault victims and a lack of accountability for sexual assault offenders. To direct national policy aimed at testing these kits and reducing future stockpiles, it is essential to realize the magnitude of the problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Strom, Kevin & Scott, Thomas & Feeney, Hannah & Young, Amanda & Couzens, Lance & Berzofsky, Marcus, 2021. "How much justice is denied? An estimate of unsubmitted sexual assault kits in the United States," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:73:y:2021:i:c:s0047235220302403
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2020.101746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Du Mont, Janice & White, Deborah & McGregor, Margaret J., 2009. "Investigating the medical forensic examination from the perspectives of sexually assaulted women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 774-780, February.
    2. Lovell, Rachel & Luminais, Misty & Flannery, Daniel J. & Bell, Richard & Kyker, Brett, 2018. "Describing the process and quantifying the outcomes of the Cuyahoga County sexual assault kit initiative," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 106-115.
    3. Lovell, Rachel & Luminais, Misty & Flannery, Daniel J. & Overman, Laura & Huang, Duoduo & Walker, Tiffany & Clark, Dan R., 2017. "Offending patterns for serial sex offenders identified via the DNA testing of previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 68-78.
    4. Campbell, Rebecca & Pierce, Steven J. & Ma, Wenjuan & Feeney, Hannah & Goodman-Williams, Rachael & Sharma, Dhruv B., 2019. "Will history repeat itself? Growth mixture modeling of suspected serial sexual offending using forensic DNA evidence," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-12.
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