Sexual Assault Evidence Research Articles

Rape Kit Notification: Recommendations and Barriers to Reconnecting with Survivors

ABSTRACT In the wake of the discovery of untested rape kits across the country, jurisdictions now face questions about how best to reengage with survivors in a sensitive and empowering way. The current study sought to provide guidance on this question through interviews and surveys about effective victim notification procedures. Using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling, the current study interviewed 76 criminal justice, advocacy, and public policy professionals and 19 rape survivors from across the country about their recommendations for rape kit notification. Inductive thematic analysis was used to derive a set of 51 unique recommendations about how and when notification should occur. These recommendations were then transformed into a survey that was sent back to participants for ratings of importance, feasibility, and acceptability. Results suggested that approaches such as involving advocates, responding in a sensitive and empathetic way, engaging in full and ongoing notification, and providing clear information and referrals to survivors were supported by professionals and survivors alike. Results also suggested that feasibility concerns played little role in determining the acceptability of different notification approaches, calling into question the common assertion that feasibility concerns prevent jurisdictions from utilizing survivor-centric and trauma-informed procedures. Implications of these findings for both researchers and practitioners seeking to address the problem of untested rape kits are discussed.

Estimating Crime Laboratory Efficiency in the Testing of Sexual Assault Kits.

Over the past decade, the large numbers of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) have been highlighted as a systematic problem that jeopardizes or delays justice for victims. Considering the benefits of testing SAKs, researchers have worked to shed light on why sexual assault evidence has not been effectively submitted to and processed by crime laboratories. Missing from this discourse has been an understanding of the types of practices or qualities that encourage efficiency in the testing of SAKs in crime laboratories. We analyzed results of a national survey administered to all publicly funded state and local crime laboratories (N = 132 respondents) to provide critical information about (i) the extent to which laboratories are testing all of the SAKs possible given the resources they have available; and (ii) the impact that staffing, equipment, policies, and other practices have on SAK testing efficiency. We find that the average laboratory tests only about 69% of the SAKs possible given the resources available to them. However, although technical inefficiencies explain a large proportion of the number of untested SAKs, the accumulation of untested SAKs must also be attributed to laboratories having insufficient resources (e.g., too few forensic analysts). Moreover, results from stochastic frontier models show that doubling the number of forensic analysts in the typical laboratory would allow them to expand their SAK testing capacity by nearly 50%. Implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to the prioritization of resources for crime laboratories, which often operate under strict budgetary realities.

Capillary zone electrophoresis separation and collection of spermatozoa for the forensic analysis of sexual assault evidence.

The processing of sexual assault kits (SAKs) relies on the genetic analysis of material extracted from swabs collected from the assault victim. A vital step in producing an identifiable DNA profile of the perpetrator is the effective separation of perpetrator (sperm) and victim (epithelial) DNA that have been isolated from the collected evidence. We report the use of capillary zone electrophoresis for the separation of intact sperm from whole and lysed epithelial cells in SAKs. The separated components are deposited into wells of a microtiter plate using a computer-controlled fraction collector, and quantitative PCR is used to verify the collection of sperm cells by targeted amplification of male DNA. We present results from simulated sexual assault samples that have been aged for up to 18 months, as well as vaginal swabs from authentic forensic kits. Components extracted from the vaginal swabs from the SAK comigrated with an aged semen sample at 6.25±0.25 min. Epithelial cells migrated from 10-12 min, producing baseline resolution of the components. Sperm cells were collected in a microtiter plate for downstream analysis.

Changing the Criminal Justice System Response to Sexual Assault: An Empirical Study of a Participatory Action Research Project.

In jurisdictions throughout the United States, thousands of sexual assault kits (SAKs; also known as a "rape kits") have not been submitted by the police for forensic DNA testing. DNA evidence may be helpful to sexual assault investigations and prosecutions by identifying perpetrators, revealing serial offenders through DNA matches across cases, and exonerating those who have been wrongly accused. This paper describes a longitudinal action research project conducted in Detroit, Michigan after that city discovered approximately 11,000 untested sexual assault kits in a police department storage facility. We conducted a root cause analysis to examine individual, organizational, community, and societal factors that contributed to the development of the rape kit backlog in Detroit. Based on those findings, we implemented and evaluated structural changes to increase staffing, promote kit testing, and retrain police and prosecutors so that cases could be reopened for investigation and prosecution. As we conducted this work, we also studied how this action research project impacted the Detroit criminal justice system. Participating in this project changed stakeholders' attitudes about the utility of research to address community problems, the usefulness of DNA evidence in sexual assault cases, and the impact of trauma on survivors. The results led to new protocols for SAK testing and police investigations, and new state legislation mandating SAK forensic DNA testing.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of the number of samples to collect and test from a sexual assault

Although the backlog of untested sexual assault kits in the United States is starting to be addressed, many municipalities are opting for selective testing of samples within a kit, where only the most probative samples are tested. We use data from the San Francisco Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory, which tests all samples but also collects information on the samples flagged by sexual assault forensic examiners as most probative, to build a standard machine learning model that predicts (based on covariates gleaned from sexual assault kit questionnaires) which samples are most probative. This model is embedded within an optimization framework that selects which samples to test from each kit to maximize the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) yield (i.e., the number of kits that generate at least one DNA profile for the criminal DNA database) subject to a budget constraint. Our analysis predicts that, relative to a policy that tests only the samples deemed probative by the sexual assault forensic examiners, the proposed policy increases the CODIS yield by 45.4% without increasing the cost. Full testing of all samples has a slightly lower cost-effectiveness than the selective policy based on forensic examiners, but more than doubles the yield. In over half of the sexual assaults, a sample was not collected during the forensic medical exam from the body location deemed most probative by the machine learning model. Our results suggest that electronic forensic records coupled with machine learning and optimization models could enhance the effectiveness of criminal investigations of sexual assaults.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 7: Is it Efficient in Detecting Seminal Stains after Long Term Storage?

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: proper detection and analysis of the biological evidence is a crucial matter for crime scene reconstruction and the most promising method for tissue determination is the analysis of differential DNA methylation patterns according to cell or tissue type. These patterns are chemically and biologically more stable thus representing a more reliable identification tool. Identification of semen and sperms are particularly important, especially in sexual assaults, where sperms are the source of DNA in the human ejaculate. In practice, sperms isolated from sexual assault evidence lose most of their distinctive sub-cellular organelles upon which morphological identification depends. AIM OF THE RESEARCH: to identify stability of the FGF7 marker in stored seminal specimens. MATERIAL and METHODS: 15 seminal specimens stored for over 10 years were used along with 5 fresh samples for FGF7 assessment. RESULTS and CONCLUSION: DNA methylation proved to be a stable marker for both fresh semen and stored semen samples.

A confirmatory test for sperm in sexual assault samples using a microfluidic-integrated cell phone imaging system

Rapid and efficient processing of sexual assault evidence to accelerate forensic investigation and decrease casework backlogs is urgently needed. Therefore, the standardized protocols currently used in forensic laboratories can benefit from continued innovation to handle the increasing number and complexity of samples being submitted to forensic labs. To our knowledge, there is currently no available rapid and portable forensic screening technology based on a confirmatory test for sperm identification in a sexual assault kit. Here, we present a novel forensic sample screening tool, i.e., a microchip integrated with a portable cell phone imaging platform that records and processes images for further investigation and storage. The platform (i) precisely and rapidly screens swab samples (<15 min after sample preparation on-chip); (ii) selectively captures sperm from mock sexual assault samples using a novel and previously published SLeX-based surface chemistry treatment (iii) separates non-sperm contents (epithelial cells and debris in this case) out of the channel by flow prior to imaging; (iv) captures cell phone images on a portable cellphone-integrated imaging platform, (v) quantitatively differentiates sperm cells from epithelial cells, using a morphology detection code that leverages Laplacian of Gaussian and Hough gradient transform methods; (vi) is sensitive within a forensic cut-off (>95% accuracy) compared to the manual counts; (vii) provides a cost-effective and timely solution to a problem which in the past has taken a great deal of time; and (viii) handles small volumes of sample (20 μL). This integration of the cellphone imaging platform and cell recognition algorithms with disposable microchips can be a new direction toward a direct visual test to screen and differentiate sperm from epithelial cell types in forensic samples for a crime laboratory scenario. With further development, this integrated platform could assist a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) in a hospital or sexual assault treatment center facility to flag sperm-containing samples prior to further downstream testing.

Sexually assaulted women: Results of a retrospective analysis of 850 women in Germany

ObjectiveAccording to prevalence studies, at least 5–6 % of women in Europe experience rape in their lives. The initial treatment after a sexual assault can influence the individual healing process positively. In Germany, there are hardly any studies that investigate larger collection of cases of sexual assault treated in hospitals. However, knowledge about characteristics of cases of sexual assault is a prerequisite for the optimal processing of primary care. Study designFor this study, the retrospective collection of data on cases of suspected sexual assault of patients presented for treatment at the Charité was carried out. Standardized findings sheets as part of a rape kit used in all cases were evaluated. Overall, 850 cases from the period between 01.01.2011 and 30.06.2016 were analyzed. The statistical evaluation was descriptive. ResultsThe median age of patient was 26 years (range 16–92). Penetration (vaginal/anal/oral) occurred in 75 % of cases. The suspect was unknown to 48,4 % of those affected, 26 % came from a circle of friends or acquaintances. 15,5 % were partners or expartners. 2/3 of the sexual assaults took place in private rooms, especially in the apartments of the victims. More than 2/3 of the women had drunk alcohol in temporal proximity to the crime. Extragenital injuries were present in 61,4 % of those affected and anogenital injuries in 25,4 %. Extragenital injuries were predominantly classified as mild (92,9 % in general physical examination and 62,4 % in eyes-nose-throat-examination). 42,1 % of the assaults took place on the weekend. 74,8 % of the patients presented themselves within 24 h of the suspected offence. ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the largest analysis of cases of sexually assaulted women treated at a hospital in Germany. The results point to important components of primary care, e.g. standardized injury recording and alcohol measurement, as these can serve as evidence in subsequent court proceedings.The structures of the first care of victims after sexual assault should consider that the majority of those affected present themselves at the weekend.

Understanding the healthcare provider response to sexual violence in Ghana: A situational analysis.

ObjectivesGender-based violence is a global public health crisis, which has health, social, and economic impacts on survivors. In Ghana, responding to and preventing sexual violence on university campuses, has become a priority area. However, data are lacking on the healthcare provider response to students who have experienced sexual violence. The purpose of this study was to conduct a situational analysis to better understand the healthcare provider response to sexual violence in Cape Coast, Ghana.MethodsFirst, an observational facility assessment about healthcare services for survivors of sexual violence was conducted at two hospitals serving university students in Cape Coast, Ghana. Next, healthcare providers at the two hospitals completed: 1) a 113-item questionnaire about healthcare services, knowledge, and attitudes related to sexual violence and 2) in-depth semi-structured interviews describing their experiences providing healthcare to survivors of sexual violence. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were computed, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsBoth sites lacked supplies, including pre-packed rape kits, post-exposure HIV prophylaxis, and informational handouts on medications and support services for survivors. Further, healthcare providers lacked training on gender-based violence, including best practices for caring for survivors and evidence collection procedures. Providers described the clinical management for survivors of sexual violence, including providers’ role in reporting sexual violence to authorities, medical forensic exams, reproductive and sexual health services, and referral for mental healthcare. Finally, providers described a number of barriers to survivors accessing post-assault healthcare, including stigma and structural barriers, such as cost of medical supplies and lack of privacy within the healthcare facilities.ConclusionsThe current healthcare response to sexual violence in Ghana is limited by lack of supplies, knowledge, and training for healthcare providers. Personal and structural barriers may prevent survivors from accessing needed healthcare following sexual violence.

High rates of sexual assault kit submission and the important role of place

•Ninety percent of sexual assault kits were submitted to the crime lab for analysis.•Victim, assault, and case factors played little role in predicting kit submission.•Submission rates varied significantly between different cities.•State and organizational culture, policy, and practice are critically important.

Offending Histories and Typologies of Suspected Sexual Offenders Identified Via Untested Sexual Assault Kits

In this study, we present findings that detail the criminal offending histories and typologies of suspected sexual offenders identified from an initiative to follow up on the testing of thousands of previously untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). This study advances our understanding of sexual offenders by incorporating data from criminal justice system records (“detected” criminal offending) with data from newly tested SAKs that were not previously adjudicated (“undetected” sexual offending). Our findings demonstrate that these offenders have extensive criminal histories, very frequently continued to offend after the SAK-associated sexual assault, and, more often than not, have criminal histories that do not include a prior arrest(s) for rape. A latent class analysis identified three classes of offenders based on their offending history, “High-Volume Generalists,” “Low-Volume Offenders,” and “Sexual Specialists.” Most were generalists, with a large proportion committing lots of serious crimes.

Visualizing the Transfers of Abusers in the 2009 Ryan Report

Visualizing the Transfers of Abusers in the 2009 Ryan Report Emilie Pine (bio), Susan Leavy (bio), and Mark T. Keane (bio) The 2009 publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan report) marked the conclusion of a nine-year, state-funded, licensed investigation into residential care for Irish children at institutions managed by the Catholic church.1 It comprises five volumes, totaling more than 2,600 pages, including testimony from 1,712 witnesses. As Mary Raftery put it, the Ryan report "painstakingly charted the vast scale of abuse of tens of thousands of children within institutions." It established once and for all the systemic nature of abuse in Irish institutions, "giv[ing] us a compelling vision of the hell to which so many children were consigned."2 The presentation of these conditions includes analysis of the Catholic congregations' repeated response to allegations of abuse. For example, the report states in regard to the Christian Brothers, "The records of the congregation show that on a number of occasions individuals who were accused of sexual abuse were transferred to other [End Page 247] residential or day schools."3 Transferring an abuser became one way to protect the reputation of the institution and the order by minimizing conflict and the potential for public awareness and scandal: In some cases brothers who had been sexually abusing children were, in their later careers, appointed to senior positions within the province. When asked at the phase I hearing for Letterfrack how this had happened, Br. Gibson explained that because the leadership in the congregation changed every twelve years, there was no memory within the organisation of offences committed before that. He acknowledged that there was a personal file for each brother and concluded that these files were not consulted in making appointments.4 Gibson blamed an amnesiac system for the promotion of abusers; the cause, however, was not amnesia. As Marie Keenan argues, "an unusually consistent pattern has emerged in the handling of abuse complaints by Catholic church leaders."5 This pattern includes denial, cover-up, and in the case of staff employed at residential institutions, the transfer of abusers from one institution to another in the wake of allegations of abuse. The congregational response to abuse—to transfer, to pretend to forget, to avoid public knowledge—was not limited to a few occasions or solely to the Christian Brothers. The report notes the repeated transfer of one priest, Father Santino of the Rosminian Order: With the knowledge that the order possessed about his past history and attitudes, they must have been aware of the likelihood that he would sexually abuse boys in this institution. It follows that the order was prepared to put boys at risk in order to find a place for somebody who might cause public scandal if he were to be located elsewhere.6 Again, the report contends that "transferring abusers to other institutions where they would be in contact with children put those children [End Page 248] at risk."7 It also notes the transfer of problematic nuns in and out of the Sisters of Mercy institution at Cappoquin. The Ryan report's authors conclude, "When confronted with evidence of sexual abuse, the response of the religious authorities was to transfer the offender to another location where in many instances he was free to abuse again…. The safety of children in general was not a consideration."8 Despite this evidence, no consistent analysis of transfers as a system-wide pattern of response to abuse is offered, for the Ryan report is structured as an in-depth narrative focusing on one institution at a time. This organization generates a thorough story about each institution and certain individuals singled out for analysis; however, it also means that if readers seek to understand systemic congregational responses to allegations of abuse in more than one institution at a time, they must be familiar with the entirety of the document. Missing in the report is a section that specifically analyses the series of events that lead to and follow the transfer of staff between institutions. Such an analysis of organizational responses to abuse would not only indicate how congregations...

Data driven optimization of sexual assault case processing

In recent years, several forensic laboratories have noted an increase in the number of sexual assault cases submitted for testing, often leading to longer turnaround times. In that context, forensic laboratories may be interested in reviewing their procedures to increase productivity. Here, we present two different strategies that were put in place in our laboratory. First, we changed the way sexual assault evidence kits (SAEK) are processed by implementing an optimized workflow that prioritizes the internal samples (vaginal, anal, and oral). This new procedure allowed for a drastic decrease in turnaround time, while maintaining a similar investigative power.Secondly, we used data from casework to target cases and samples that were likely to yield biological material from the perpetrator, in an attempt to avoid dedicating time and effort to cases for which there is a very low probability of obtaining foreign DNA evidence. Among other things, we looked at the likelihood of obtaining DNA from the perpetrator when the complainant reported the use of a condom, has showered after the assault or when the complainant has no memory of the assault. Results show that those circumstances do not dramatically decrease the probability of finding DNA from the perpetrator.

Reporting Sexual Assault: Can Knowledge of How to Protect Forensic Evidence Influence Intentions to Report?

Responding to the high prevalence, low reporting, and poor conviction rates of adult sexual assault, Australian criminal jurisdictions have introduced protocols that allowed collection of medical forensic evidence from victims without police notification, since 1999. To assess the influence of reforms on potential victim behavior, this study measured lay knowledge of measures to protect forensic evidence of sexual assault, and predictors of intention to report adult sexual assault through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). An online survey was conducted with a sample of University of Canberra students and community members (N = 204). Results indicated moderate lay knowledge of how to protect evidence of sexual assault; however, only 46.1% of the sample were aware that evidence could be collected without police notification. The TPB successfully explained 55.6% of variance in intention to report future sexual assault. Participants who had experienced previous adult sexual assault victimization were significantly less likely to intend to report future sexual assault than those who had not. Knowledge of forensic evidence of sexual assault was not related to intention to report by self-efficacy as predicted; instead, it was mediated via subjective norms. Results indicated the potential value education to improve lay awareness of how to protect and report medical forensic evidence and to foster social norms that value reporting, particularly among school and university students.

An Examination of Sexual Assault Kit Submission Efficiencies Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Law Enforcement Agencies

Drawing on results from a survey of 321 law enforcement agencies, we assess how labor and capital inputs, evidence policies, and other agency characteristics affect the number of sexual assault kits (SAKs) submitted to crime laboratories for testing. We examine to what extent agencies are submitting the maximum number of SAKs possible, given their available resources. Stochastic frontier models are used to analyze the productivity of labor inputs for the submission of SAKs and the extent to which resource inefficiencies contribute to unsubmitted SAKs. Results indicate that agencies are submitting fewer than 60% of SAKs that are possible given their resources. Full-time sworn officers were found to be productive inputs, as the number of SAKs submitted increases by 24% for every 100% increase in the number of officers. Findings also suggest that the accumulation of SAKs is driven partially by technical inefficiencies but more so by a lack of resources.

Differential extraction method as a golden standard in analyzing semen stains in sexual-assault cases

In the investigation of sexual-assault cases different analysis of collected biological samples from the victim and from the crime scene are applicable, depending on the results of the presumptive tests for sample characterization. DNA testing of semen stains can be performed in different ways. Differential extraction method is a golden standard for analysis of sexual assault mixture samples of sperm cells and victim epithelial cells, allowing straight forward interpretation of perpetrator’s DNA profile. We have to keep in mind that it is not applicable in about 1.9% of semen stains, found in the casework that shows condition of azoospermia.We present two cases where differential extraction method was decisive approach in analysis of sexual assault evidence in the trial process.

How the Investigator Casework GO! Kit provides sensitive, fast and robust direct amplification of low copy number samples

Casework sample processing typically involves DNA extraction, quantification and STR profiling. However, silica-based DNA purification bares the risk of losing crucial sample material especially with low copy number DNA from evidence touch skin samples.We tested a direct amplification approach for casework samples that skips the laborious and costly DNA extraction step and could offer an accelerated workflow with rapid processing of swabs, including cuttings of sexual assault swabs, and other materials. We could demonstrate that the Investigator Casework GO! Kit could be used even with touch and other low copy number samples providing comparable or higher sensitivity than the classical sample prep workflow. Furthermore, the method could be easily modified to fulfill individual needs for an easy integration into the manual or automated routine testing, e.g. for Y-screening of sexual assault kits.

The Best Way Out is Always Through: Addressing the Problem of Untested Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs) through Multidisciplinary Collaboration

ABSTRACTIn jurisdictions throughout the United States, law enforcement personnel have not been routinely submitting sexual assault kits (SAKs) for forensic DNA testing. The biological evidence in these kits may still be viable and actionable for police and prosecutors, so multiple federal programs have been created to promote rape kit testing, investigation, prosecution, and victim advocacy. In this longitudinal qualitative study, we followed one large urban community through a multi-year process of reviewing thousands of untested rape kits to identify empirically-supported lessons learned for successful multidisciplinary collaboration in “cold case” sexual assaults. Results indicated the importance of developing community champions and community quarterbacks to engage and sustain collaborative partners. The multidisciplinary action research team developed strategies for negotiating with both front line staff and executives, advocating for sustainable staffing plans, changing policy and practice across all partner organizations, and codifying these changes in the face of constant upheaval. Implications for empirically-supported training and technical assistance programs are discussed.

374 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Care of Sexual Assault Survivors in the Emergency Department

Sexual assault (SA) survivors may qualify for state-mandated specialized forensic care, which requires extensive time and expertise. Few studies have looked at provider experience. We examined the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of providers of forensic care in a high-volume, urban emergency department (ED) serving SA patients aged 12 years or older. Providers are defined as either sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFEs) or emergency medicine faculty (EMF) who typically perform forensic care when no SAFE is available. SAFEs are individuals who have completed either a 40-hour course or an 8-hour advanced practitioner course and take call. SAFEs are RNs, NPs, PAs and residents at our institution. Anonymous, IRB-approved surveys were disseminated to SAFEs and EMF via email. Surveys collect demographic data and assess providers’ level of knowledge, perceptions of their knowledge, attitudes, emotions, perceived barriers to providing care, and preferences for continuing education regarding SAFE care. Data was collected using a REDCap database and analyzed using R 3.5.3. Comparisons were made using Chi-square tests, Student’s t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Among SAFEs (n=16, 35% response rate), the average years of SAFE experience was 2.2, and 2 (13%) had completed at least 20 forensic exams in their career. Among faculty (n=30, 50.8% response rate), the average years of general emergency medicine practice was 10.9. None of the faculty with the most SAFE experience (ie, performed ≥20 exams in their career) have formal SAFE training (n=3, 1%). Overall, 33% of EMF have completed a SAFE course. This group was analyzed as faculty only, as they do not take call. There were no significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors between faculty who completed a SAFE course and those who did not. A larger proportion of faculty reported feelings of high anxiety (70.0% vs. 13.3%, p<0.001) and high conflict (70.0% vs. 13.3%, p<0.001) when a survivor was triaged to their area and there was no SAFE vs. there was a SAFE present. When comparing EMF to SAFEs, there were no significant differences in knowledge regarding indications for drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) kits, the role of advocates in evidence collection, post-discharge resources for survivors, or their role in determining whether SA occurred. However, a lower proportion of faculty, compared to SAFEs, rated themselves as knowledgeable about forensic documentation (46.7% vs. 87.5%, p=0.017) and DFSA kits (40.0% vs. 93.8%, p=0.001). Faculty also reported less competency in screening for sexual violence compared to SAFEs (p=0.014). The most common barriers to providing SAFE care for faculty include clinical management of all other patients in the ED (93.3%) and staffing (80.0%) and for SAFEs include staffing (68.8%) and paperwork (56.2%). This novel evaluation of providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the care of SA survivors demonstrates that EMF experience greater distress when caring for survivors in the absence of a SAFE and report less knowledge and competency in areas of care unique to SA patients. History of formal SAFE training did not mitigate these findings. This study highlights the importance of adequate SAFE coverage as well as a need for continuing and greater support and education to providers of care for SA survivors.

Evaluation of sexual assault evidence collection kit: Comparison of the success rate of STR analysis of swabs versus rinses

In Belgium, it is a general recommendation to collect swabs and rinses in rape cases. We evaluated the need of both prelevations for successful DNA analysis based on historical data. DNA concentrations and success rate of STR analysis of a total of 213 PSA positive rinses (including 29 anal and 184 vaginal rinses) and 256 PSA positive swabs (including 55 anal and 201 vaginal swabs) were compared. The study includes 154 cases where both a swab and a rinse were analysed simultaneously. Considering all vaginal and anal swabs and all rinses together, the median of the DNA concentration of DNA isolates of swabs is approximately 2.5 times higher than those of the DNA isolates of rinses. Moreover the success rate of obtaining an autosomal STR profile useful to identify the assailant is 72% for swabs versus 65% for rinses for the cases where both a swab and a rinse were examined simultaneously. In conclusion, swabs were found to have a higher DNA yield and a higher success rate of STR analysis for identifying the alleged assailant than rinses.