Jane Doe Rape Test Evidence Collection
July 17, 2008

Some victims of sexual assault seeking medical care are initially undecided about whether to report to police that a crime occurred. In keeping with the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, states will soon be required to pay for the examination and collection of potentially relevant evidence in cases of alleged rape. The significance is that evidence will be collected and stored by number so that the victim of sexual assault can remain anonymous until he/she decides to report that a crime occurred. This prevents the potential loss of forensic evidence in future criminal cases. However, some problems with the plan will continue such as where anonymous but numbered envelopes of evidence will be stored and the duration of storage especially in cases where the jurisdiction is unclear concerning the location of the alleged but unreported assault.

Copyright Forensicpsychiatry.com 2008

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