41-1735. Sexual assault kit evidence tracking system; definitions

314 words·~1 min read·/az/title-41/41-1735

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. The department shall establish a sexual assault kit evidence tracking system to track sexual assault kit evidence that is collected as prescribed in section 13-1426. A medical provider, law enforcement agency, public accredited crime laboratory or other person or entity that has custody or use of sexual assault kit evidence shall submit that information to the sexual assault kit evidence tracking system. The sexual assault kit evidence tracking system must:

1. Track the location and status of each sexual assault kit, including:

(a)The initial collection of evidence for the kit in a forensic medical examination.

(b)The receipt and storage of the kit at a law enforcement agency.

(c)The receipt and analysis of the kit at a public accredited crime laboratory.

(d)The storage and destruction of the kit.

2. Allow a health care facility that performs a forensic medical examination of a victim, a law enforcement agency, a public accredited crime laboratory, a prosecutor or another entity that provides a chain of custody for sexual assault kit evidence to update and track the status and location of the kits.

3. Allow a victim to anonymously track and receive updates regarding the status and location of the victim's sexual assault kit evidence, with advance notification of destruction of the kit.

B. Sexual assault kit evidence records that are entered into the sexual assault kit evidence tracking system are confidential, except that the records may be accessed by:

1. The victim for whom the sexual assault kit evidence was completed.

2. An employee of an entity listed in subsection A of this section for the purposes of updating or tracking the status or location of the sexual assault kit evidence.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Law enforcement agency" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13-1426.

2. "Public accredited crime laboratory" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13-1426.