(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson today announced the formation of a working group to examine ways to improve law enforcement’s reporting of sexual-assault-evidence-kit data to his office.
The working group will study challenges that agencies face in meeting annual reporting requirements and identify ways to improve the process. Under Ohio law, government agencies that receive, maintain, store or preserve sexual assault evidence kits must submit relevant data to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which is required to compile the information into an annual report.
“The focus of this working group is to recommend improvements to the General Assembly for streamlining the reporting of this critical data,” Wilson said. “The current process is cumbersome and ineffective. This group will study the best path forward to improve data collection and agency participation.”
Wilson has named 17 law enforcement leaders and subject-matter experts to the working group, including representatives from the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
Members include:
- Co-Chair: Kristen Slaper, senior adviser to AG Wilson
- Co-Chair: James Lowe, deputy attorney general for law enforcement, Ohio Attorney General’s Office
- Rosa Beltré, president and CEO, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
- Elaine Bryant, chief, Columbus Division of Police
- Scott Comstock, chief, Zanesville Police Department
- Nicole Dehner, executive director, Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
- Sheree Ford, clinical nurse manager for forensics, OhioHealth
- Reese Gallagher, advocacy manager, Ohio Hospital Association
- Robert Houghton, chief, Blanchester Police Department
- Bryn Hunt, vice president and associate general counsel, Ohio Hospital Association
- Laura Kaiser, executive director, Forensic Nursing Network
- Cathy Harper Lee, founder and executive director, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
- Thomas Riggenbach, sheriff, Van Wert County
- Ben Suver, director, Ohio Department of Public Safety
- John Swaney, sheriff, Madison County
- Eric Weisburn, sheriff, Stark County
- Jenny Wells, prosecuting attorney, Licking County
The working group will hold its first meeting in the coming weeks and issue a report and recommendations by the end of the year.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Steve Irwin: 614-728-5417
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