Local level SAEC policies/data (Erie County Police Services) • MuckRock

2 Communications
2 Files

From: Vanessa Nason

03/05/2018

Subject: Freedom of Information Law Request: Local level SAEC polices/data (Erie County Police Services)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (1977 N.Y. Laws ch. 933), I hereby request the following records:

Any and all statistics, data, reports, audits, policies, and procedures pertaining to the following items regarding sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kits (also known as "rape kits") and processing:

• all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process

• the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed

• the number of kits that have been processed by a public or private crime or forensic laboratory or equivalent processing location from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed

• the number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department’s jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations

• any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data.

• all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits

• all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits

If there any questions about this request, please feel free to call us at the MuckRock office at 617-299-1832.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Nason

From: Erie County Central Police Services

04/02/2018

Subject: FW: FOIL Reply for Vanessa Halson - MuckRock News

County of Erie
MARK C. POLONCARZ
COUNTY EXECUTIVE

DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL POLICE SERVICES
March 26, 2018

[FOR CPS USE ONLY Request Number: 18 03 18 Date Received: 03/07/18]

Vanessa Nalson
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 50161
411 A Highland Ave,
Summerville, MA 02144-2516

Re: Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request Ref# 18 03 18

Dear Ms. Nalson:

Below are the bulleted requests received 03/07/18 through a FOIL request associated with sexual assault evidence kit collection. The Erie County Central Police Services responses to the inquiries are highlighted in yellow, directly following the item.

• all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process: Erie County Central Police Services is not involved in the collection process of sexual assault evidence kits.

• any written policies or procedures regarding department practices on the acquisition of or handling of rape kit evidence, including protocols for its collection, testing, and delegation and transfer to all other possibly relevant locations, laboratories, or agencies: Erie County Central Police Services is not involved in the collection, delegation or transfer of any rape kit evidence. Laboratory policies and procedures associated with testing are only released for specific criminal investigations upon discovery requests.

• the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed: Erie County Central Police Services is not involved in the collection of kits. As per laboratory records, 4,090 kits have been submitted to the laboratory to date.

• the number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department’s jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations: There are no (zero) unprocessed kits in any storage facility currently under Central Police Services’ jurisdiction and control.

• any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data. This is not applicable to Erie County Central Police Services.

• all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits: Erie County Central Police Services is not involved in the collection of SAEC kits. Erie County Central Police Services does not have a backlog of SAEC kits.

• all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits: Erie County Central Police Services is not involved in the collection of SAEC kits. There are no Erie County Central Police Services proposed changes to the policies and procedures regarding the testing of SAEC kits.

Please contact Central Police Services if any of the provided responses need clarification. Thank you for your patience as we obtained the information requested.
We believe that the release of this information completes our response to your request. However, should further assistance be needed, or if there are other questions relating to this request, please call the undersigned at
716-858-6365.

Should further assistance be needed, or if there are other questions relating to this request, please call the undersigned at 716-858-6365.

Very truly yours,

Marlaine P. Hoffman
Deputy Dir. of Information Services

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