Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kits for Medical Providers

Supporting victims by providing evidence collection kits for health providers.

Overview

DCJS provides hospitals and other health care providers with sexual offense evidence collection kits and drug facilitated sexual assault evidence collection kits. These kits are used by medical professionals to collect DNA and other evidence during a physical exam of an individual who has been the victim of a sexual assault.

The kits are provided at no cost and contain all the materials, instructions and forms necessary to ensure evidence is collected and stored as required. DCJS developed a training presentation to instruct medical providers on the proper use of the kit.

To obtain kits, hospitals and health care providers must complete the sexual offense evidence collection kit order form and email it to [email protected]. Please contact the Office of Forensic Services at that email address or 518-457-1901 for more information about the kits, training or any of the forms available on this page.

Sexual Offense and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits Order Form

Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault

The state Office of Victim Services (OVS) funds and supports a network of community-based programs that provide direct services to victims and survivors of sexual assault and other crimes, and confidential support and information is available 24/7 through the state's Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: 844-997-2121 (text), opdv.ny.gov (chat) or 800-942-6906 (call).

OVS also operates a facility for the storage of kits that have not be released to law enforcement and provides individuals the ability to track the status of their unreported kit. Survivors who have questions about the storage facility may email [email protected] for information.

New York State law requires medical providers who treat victims of sexual assault to notify those individuals that the cost of a forensic rape exam (FRE) can be billed directly to OVS. An exam may include collection and preservation of evidence in a sexual offense evidence collection kit. The Forensic Rape Examination Direct Reimbursement Program helps provides for the personal privacy of individuals who have been the victims of a sexual assault.

Patient Consent Forms

Medical Provider Training & Instructions

  • Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Fact Sheet

    Information to help providers determine if a sexual assault was facilitated by the use of drugs to incapacitate a patient, including signs to look for, possible scenarios, and what to do if a drug facilitated sexual assault was possible.

    Download

Medical Provider Forms

Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kit Inventory Reports

State law requires police departments, sheriffs’ offices, district attorneys’ offices and forensic laboratories to report to DCJS the number of sexual offense evidence kits they have received and processed. DCJS annually publishes reports detailing this information and makes them available here.