The Sconi

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul today marks the second anniversary of the state's sexual assault kit (SAK) tracking system. Since its launch in May 2022, 3,458 SAKs have been entered into the system, which provides survivors with transparency regarding the status and location of their kits.

“Wisconsin’s sexual assault kit tracking system ensures that survivors can access information about the status of their kit at any time,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to everyone who has helped make the kit-tracking system a success.”

Dana Pellebon, Executive Director of RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center, emphasized the empowerment this system offers to survivors: “Survivors have a greater sense of control with the Track Kit system. It allows them to make decisions on their time and be assured they know where all their sensitive information is at all times.”

Jessica Lind, Program Coordinator for Women’s Community Sexual Assault Victim Services, highlighted both survivor benefits and law enforcement utility: “Since the implementation of Track Kit, it has been a useful tool for survivors... Law enforcement can track how many kits are being sent into the crime lab from our county including anonymous kits."

Sexual assault remains a pressing issue in Wisconsin. The Uniform Crime Reporting program by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis reported 5,215 sex offenses in 2022. The actual number is likely higher due to underreporting.

Navigating post-assault procedures can be daunting for survivors. Implementing the SAK tracking system is part of Wisconsin DOJ's victim-centered approach to support survivors through transparent and respectful processes.

The SAK tracking statutes were established by 2021 Wisconsin Act 117. This act mandates health care professionals, law enforcement agencies, and state crime laboratories to input data about SAKs into the tracking system. This enables anonymous access for survivors to check their kit's status.

The tracking operates via barcodes assigned during examinations by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), without storing personally identifiable information in the system. Currently, there are 374 SANE-trained health professionals using this method across Wisconsin.

Since 2015, BJA has provided grants under its Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) to assist Wisconsin DOJ in addressing unsubmitted kits and supporting investigations and prosecutions linked to these cases.

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