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PROTOTYPE
PROTOTYPE
PROTOTYPE
PROTOTYPE
CONCLUSION
NEXT STEPS

Formative Study & Revised Concept - Milestone 2

INTRODUCTION

At the end of the previous milestone our direction was a bit unstructured as we struggled to determine the appropriate course of action for this topic. We were sure that we wanted to help introduce technology to help assist with the backlog issue, but were still unsure as to just what was causing that issue.We have since conducted interviews, done extensive research online, and studied case studies, Census Data, and other in depth research provided by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). They were able to provide valuable insight into the subject of victim engagement, detachment, and participation in sexual assault investigations. The discovery of this information changed the direction of our project and allowed us to center on the survivor vs. a focus on technology.  It brought about a sense of empathy that enabled us to gain a better understanding of the sexual assault investigative process and enabled us to set a definitive course toward a solution to the problem of re-engagement of survivors into the investigation after months or years of poor communication.

STUDY DESIGN

Study Design

The plan behind the study that the NIJ performed and that enabled us to better define our project scope centered around the reasons that many cities had a large backlog of rape kit testing. They decided to visit and tour two of the largest organizations that had the most backlog for their rape kits. They discovered during their visits that thousands of rape kits were sitting on shelves, some 30 years old that had just been placed there for one reason or another. Some lacked the funding to send them for processing, while others were not submitted by law enforcement investigators who felt that there was no need because suspects were either known, or victim credibility questioned. Investigators in some cases made the decision to test or not to test based upon 

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  • facts of the case

  • whether or not the assailant was known

  • matters of consent 

  • lack of technology

  • cost, little to no budgets to send kits out for testing

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They decided to conduct a census of backlogged kits in Detroit, MI and Houston, TX. Because there had never been a database used to log the kits no one had any idea how many each location had. Investigators proceeded to conduct a manual census of all kits housed in an unused parking structure. They counted, recorded, and logged each kit into a new IT infrastructure that enabled them to better track kit investigation and easily share information across systems like CODIS and the National DNA Index System. 

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The team also conducted focus groups with victims and professionals to determine how they wanted to be notified when a hit was discovered. 

STUDY RESULTS

Study Results

The NIJ team learned many things as a result. They were able to discern that there were many factors involved in the processing of rape kits. They also gained insight when they received "hits" in their CODIS database by perpetrators who had committed the same crime in other cities. They were able to share information with victims. Because investigators included professionals like medical professionals and community advocates in this study, they were able to develop a wealth of information about survivors of sexual assault.

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  • They learned to understand the natural reactions of survivors - that people weren't necessarily "lying" in repeat testimony but instead exhibiting signs of trauma. 

  • They learned to involve Sexual Assault Nursing Examiners (S.A.N.E. Nurses) in these discussions as they are the first line of interaction with the victim as they conduct their forensic evidence exam.

  • They learned that as a result of signs of PTSD, that survivors often had a hard time remembering and can't always do things sequentially as a result. (This often leads to blaming the victim, or discrediting them in court.)

  • They learned to view the investigation from the VICTIM'S PERSPECTIVE. 

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We discovered that more needed to be done to attend to the needs of the survivor as they entered the investigation after years with little to no interaction with it. This investigation helped us have our EUREKA moment as we discovered a touchpoint where this system is lacking, and where our team could potentially help. The information gathered in this section of research allowed us to better define our project, re-asses our problem and assign goals for our next steps. 

We transitioned from what was initially intended to be just a technology based system, to more of a personal approach and empathic one that puts the needs of the survivor first. 

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IDEATION & SELECTION

Ideation & Selection

Our process for ideation for this round involved a walk through of a victim scenario, as well as 2 other storyboards from the perspective of the medical professional SANE nurse and law enforcement. The storyboard below was created ​to define various interactions, emotions, and processes that a victim would encounter before and after a sexual assault. The scenario ends with our victim wishing that she had more control over her investigation and processing of the evidence in her kit after she discovers that there has been a "hit" after 15 years. The method that the officer delivers the news is based upon an actual sexual assault survivor account.

We took what we learned from our initial research and interviews and realized that we were trying to examine was a vast array of various problems that had the potential to send us off in many different directions. There were problems with funding, with resources, and with lack of empathy by law enforcement agencies that had a tendency to engage in "blaming the victim" scenarios. All of these were reasons that rape kits were not being processed in a timely manner.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED:

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  • Vague Problem Definition

  • Too Many Players

  • Too Much Information led us to discover that we needed to narrow our focus

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So we had to begin again and engage in a new round of research which involved finding new resources like the NIJ website to help us find the data that we needed to better understand the backlog and everyone involved in the evidence collection process.

We discovered that throughout the process the one person that did not seem to have a voice in the investigation was the victim. Many felt like they were not updated in ways that did not cause them trauma. Regression into previous memories of the attack were triggered in many survivors with the abrupt ways that investigators would inform them a progression of their case due to a "hit" in CODIS. Many expressed that they would love a little more control in the way that they were informed. A hotline was established in the NIJ study, but even this was not very welcoming or only provided information if the survivor called in.

 

Hotline protocol:

Suspect CODIS hit – Complainant should be contacted. Exception: In cases where the statutes of limitations has expired and there is no prosecutorial standing with the case (i.e., the suspect is in prison and this case could impact parole, or if the case is connected to other cases making the suspect a serial offender) the Complainant will not be contacted.

Case-to-case CODIS hit without identified suspect – No contact, unless complainant contacts the Information Line or unless a suspect is identified in one of the case hits

- DNA positive, CODIS eligible – No contact, unless complainant contacts the Information Line or CODIS hit is made 

OPPORTUNITIES:

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We discovered through this process that we have an opportunity to keep the survivor updated throughout the entire investigative process from the point of submission of their forensic evidence kit. 

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  • A chance to assist survivors connect with their investigation again on their own time anywhere throughout the process.

  • Opportunity to connect survivors with specialized advocates and professionals to help them heal available to them at any time

  • A chance for investigators to have a place for open communication with all parties involved

  • Defining a system around the needs of the survivor vs. just concentrating on the technology

  • Opportunity to design for an unheard almost "voiceless" portion of society

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In short, we traded too much information about too many different potential problems in this system for a narrowed focus on the survivor. We gained empathy for their plight and now we can go into the next phase with a better idea of where we'd like to see this project end up. 

Refined Scope & Concepts

REFINED SCOPE & CONCEPTS

During this milestone, we achieved the following with regard to scope and conceptualization of our project.

  • Narrowed our focus to support victim notification and re-entry into the investigation when there is a CODIS hit from their DNA evidence or new information that investigators want to share

  • Potential problems could be, lack of technology intelligence on part of the survivor - depends on age, socioeconomic status, access to computer/mobile technologies. Difficulty to convince the adoption of new technologies by all parties involved.

  • Potential opportunities: help for survivors when they need and want it, better control over their own investigation, greater insight into what is actually happening (or not happening) with their evidence kit.

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CONCEPTS: 

Our design concepts will include a user interface website design and application design

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CONCLUSION - Next Steps

Conclusion

Our next steps will involve more focus on design and prototype development of the information flow, user scenarios, and fleshing out of our website and app design. Interviews with survivors will be the underlying context for the next phase use scenarios and flows.

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