How Do Rape Kits Work? – the Ultimate Guide

It’s important to understand how do rape kits work. In the United States, a sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds. A victim of a sexual assault may decide to get a forensic medical exam soon after the attack to gather any evidence that might have been left behind.

First, the examiner obtains from the survivor a thorough medical history. The inspectors swabbed the survivors’ skin, genitalia, anus, and mouths, scraped beneath the survivors’ fingernails, and combed the survivors’ hair to collect biological evidence such as saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells, and hair. To preserve physical evidence of bumps and injuries, survivors’ bodies were photographed from head to toe.

It is significant to note that this exam may be refused in any or all areas at any time. The evidence is carefully packaged and labeled to prevent contamination after the forensic examination is finished.

If you wish to learn more, keep reading.

How Do Rape Kits Work

A thorough medical history is first obtained from the survivor by the examiner. In order to catch any hair or fiber evidence that may fall from the survivor’s body while they are getting dressed, they stand on a large sheet of paper. For testing of hair, fibers, and any additional evidence, the survivor’s clothing as well as the sheet are collected. Any assault-related injuries are noted, treated, and evidence is gathered during the physical exam. The examiner takes swabs of the survivor’s skin, genitalia, anus, and mouth and then collects biological evidence such as saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells, and hair by scraping under the survivor’s fingernails and combing through the survivor’s hair. To preserve proof of bruises and injuries, the survivor’s body is photographed from head to toe. Please be aware that you may opt out of any or all parts of this examination at any time. The evidence is carefully labeled and packaged after the forensic medical examination is finished to avoid contamination.

The contents of the kit vary from state to state, but most kits include the following items:

• Detailed instructions for the examiner
• Forms for documenting the procedure and evidence gathered
• Tubes and containers for blood and urine samples
• Paper bags for collecting clothing and other physical evidence
• Swabs for biological evidence collection
• A large sheet of paper on which the victim undresses to collect hairs and fibers
• Dental floss and wooden sticks for fingernail scrapings
• Glass slides
• Sterile water and saline
• Envelopes, boxes, and labels for each of the various stages of the exam

However, some hospitals have specially trained staff members called Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs) or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) to perform the forensic medical examination. While any doctor or nurse can perform the examination by following the instructions provided in the kit, they are called SAFEs or SANEs. Research demonstrates that trained examiner programs significantly increase the gathering of evidence and the investigation of sexual assault cases, leading to significantly higher prosecution rates. Additionally, SANEs and SAFEs are taught how to conduct examinations with tact, dignity, and a reduced risk of trauma.

Rape Kits Background

When the real identities of the perpetrators of heinous sexual assaults were discovered thanks to the evidence gathered in rape kits, it had a different impact on two lives. For Lavinia Masters, the information from a rape kit compiled two decades earlier helped identify the man who sexually assaulted her when she was just 13 years old.

There was a longer delay for Johnny Pinchback. He was imprisoned for 27 years before his innocence was established following an analysis of the rape kit used on his alleged victim. One spent years in prison, the other years living in constant fear and looking over their shoulders. Both lost portions of their lives.

Sexual assault affects the lives of many men and women. Victims, medical professionals, and law enforcement are interested in finding the offender so that justice will be served. One tool that is used to make this happen is a rape kit. This is a kit that medical professionals use to gather proof that will help them find the offender. In recent times, people convicted of crimes they didn’t commit have been cleared thanks to evidence gathered with a rape kit.

A rape kit contains the materials, instructions, and evidence bags needed to perform a sexual assault forensic exam. An SANE, or sexual assault nurse examiner, is a nurse who specializes in conducting these exams and uses the rape kit to gather and collect evidence. Since the evidence might later be used as incriminating evidence, it’s crucial that it be gathered and collected properly.

Rape Kits: What is Inside

Depending on the country and region where the crime was committed, rape kits may contain different items. However, a list of some of the typical contents will follow:

• Bags and sheets of paper
• Comb
• Forms for documentation
• Envelopes
• Instructions
• Materials for blood samples
• Swabs

It is important to follow the correct steps when performing a forensic sexual assault examination. The contents of that kit could have an impact on lives, including those of Masters and Pinchback, so knowing this is essential.

Conclusion

Rape test kit or rape test kit refers to a set of items used by medical personnel to collect and store physical evidence after being charged with sexual assault. Information provided by victims can help criminal rape investigation and prosecution of suspected attackers. By identifying criminals, exposing serial criminals through DNA matching in cases, and eliminating those wrongly accused, DNA evidence is very helpful for sexual assault investigation and prosecution.

Thank you for reading.