02 May NYS Office of Victim Services Virtual Town Hall on Sexual Offence Evidence Kits: Kit Release and Disposal
Part of a series of town hall meetings about storage of untested sexual offense evidence kits (SOECKS) and associated items.
From 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM ET
At Online via Zoom
Click here to register by May 31.
Presented by the New York State Office of Victim Services / soeck@ovs.ny.gov
The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) is soliciting feedback, information, and best practices from key stakeholders related to its responsibility to store untested sexual offense evidence kits (SOECKs), and associated items for 20 years from the date of collection. Each meeting will focus on a specific topic: Victim Notifications; Transfer and Receipt of Forensic Evidence; and Kit Release and Disposal.
Please see the attached flyer for additional information including detailed instructions on how to register and request speaking time. Space is limited for each meeting. We encourage you to attend only the meetings relevant to your area of expertise. Registration deadline is two weeks in advance of the meeting you wish to attend. All registrations are subject to approval.
Meeting 3: Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kit Release and Disposal (June 14, 2022, at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET)
OVS seeks participation in response to the following questions:
- What best practices currently exist for hospitals to notify law enforcement that a kit is being released to law enforcement?
- What are the recommended best practices in coordinating law enforcement pickup for released kits?
- What best practices exist for hospitals to use to verify the identity of a victim in the event of kit release and/or kit disposal?
- What are the recommended best practices in receiving and processing personal items return requests from victims?
- What are the recommended best practices in returning personal items to victims in a way that maintains confidentially and safety of the victim?
Who should participate? Stakeholders who have experience or expertise in evidence release, return, and disposal.
Participants may include hospital-based providers, medical professionals, SANE coordinators or SANE nurses, or other professionals who have experience with these practices. Any additional experts in this session topic area are encouraged to attend and participate.
Accessibility: In accordance with its policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, OVS will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, to ensure individuals’ access to participate in these Virtual Town Hall meetings. Please review OVS’s accommodation request policy for more information. Accommodations must be requested at least 10 days prior to the event.
Contact: Please email soeck@ovs.ny.gov with any questions about the Virtual Town Hall meetings. We look forward to your participation and feedback.