Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 DNA Collection: The Body As A Crime Scene Investigating Allegations of Staff Sexual Misconduct with Offenders NIC/WCL Project on Addressing Prison Rape July 11, 2006

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Training Objectives Understand what DNA is Identify where DNA can be collected from Explain the process of a SANE exam Explain how to store DNA Understand the timeline of DNA Evidence

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 What is DNA? Each human cell contains over six feet of DNA Approximately 100,000 human genes Over 99.9% of human DNA is the same for all individuals Over 95% of human DNA has no recognized function

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Sources of DNA Blood Saliva (skin cells) Sweat (skin cells) Hair Root Mucous Vaginal Fluid Semen Vomit Feces

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Physical Evidence to Collect From the Scene Victim’s Underwear Victim’s Clothes Rug/floor covering Chair covering Towel Blanket Condom Tissue Other

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Physical Evidence to Collect From the Victim Oral swabs (if oral sex) Vaginal swabs Inner Thighs/Genitalia Swabs Rectal Swabs Blood Sample Pubic Hair Combings Pulled Head Hair (known samples) Pulled Pubic Hair (known samples)

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Physical Evidence to Collect From the Suspect Underwear/Clothing Penile Swab Buccal Swab ( as evidence of oral sex or as known sample ) Blood Sample – purple top Pulled Head Hair Pulled Pubic Hair

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 S.A.N.E. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)) are the “gold standard’ for treatment of patients who report a sexual assault. S.A.N.E. programs are nationally recognized as the most appropriate model for providing optimal effective expert, impartial medico-legal examinations.

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 S.A.N.E EXAMS Treatment and documentation of injuries Treatment and evaluation of sexually transmitted diseases Pregnancy risk evaluation and prevention Crisis intervention and arrangements for follow- up counseling Collection of medico/legal evidence while maintaining the proper chain of evidence

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Contains oEnvelopes oBoxes oSwabs oPaper bindles oPaper bags oForensic chart NOTE: The Evidence Kit remains sealed until exam begins.

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 S.A.N.E Evidence As evidence is collected, it is appropriately packaged. oSwabs of possible sites of DNA collection are placed in ventilated boxes. oAny foreign body will be placed on a sheet of paper and bundled, then taped to secure. oClothing will be placed in paper bags. Pulled hair shafts and combings of hair for trace evidence All evidence is further placed in separate envelopes, sealed, and then sealed in the kit All specimens must be properly labeled with time, date, and initials of the examiner. Kit is sealed, maintaining chain of custody throughout.

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Assessment of Forensic Exam Cannot conclude ovalidity of claim o“diagnosis” rape/sexual assault odegree of force Can conclude oRecent sexual contact oRecent trauma oConsistency between findings and victim’s account of events The absence of injuries does not mean that sex was consensual or the a sexual assault did not occur

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Benefits of SANE Programs Cost-Effective Additional training/highly trained forensic specialist Led to more evidence being preserved for criminal prosecution Decrease waiting time in the Emergency Department Comfortable in legal process Work closely with crisis counseling programs Expert witness Assist both the prosecution and defense elements of our criminal justice system Higher reporting rates

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 How to Store DNA Evidence Seal Evidence Record Chain of Evidence Paper bag (not plastic) Refrigerate  (Heat, sunlight, bacteria, and mold can destroy DNA evidence) Investigate possibility of chemical contamination when collecting evidence

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 DNA Timeline It is best to collect DNA evidence from a body within 72 hours Can find/collect evidence from other sites after 72 hours An acute sexual assault exam can be done within hours of assault After 72 hours, a forensic exam can still be done for the purpose of documenting healing injury, but DNA evidence will most likely be unobtainable due to degradation.

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Special Considerations in Sexual Assault Cases SANE Nurse is the best to do this exam There can be DNA evidence without intercourse to corroborate victim story You can have injuries consistent with sexual assault without penetration with a penis Victims are crime scenes with evidence to be collected

Developed by Jaime Yarussi and Mary Pinn under NIC Cooperative Agreement #06S20GJJ1 Why Proper DNA Collection is Important to the Investigative Process Integrity of evidence Chain of custody Special training for collection Validity and Reliability Prosecution buy-in Jury belief of third-party examiners