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MIDCOAST–BUT THEY ARE NOW SEEING TICKS MOVE FARTHER AND FARTHER DOWN EAST CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS GETTING A FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPROVE SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS AND CREATE GREATER TRANSPARENCY FOR VICTIMS. THIS, AS A HANDFUL OF STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT REFORM. 8 INVESTIGATES HAS BEEN SHEDDING LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE ALL YEAR. NORAH HOGAN JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO AND NORAH — MAINE IS CONSIDERED LAST IN THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES – BUT IT SEEMS THAT COULD CHANGE SOON — WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THESE REFORMS SINCE AT LEAST 20-17 – AS THEY CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR CHANGE AT THE STATE-LEVEL – CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS NOW POISED TO LEAD THE WAY. 00;04;47;24 “THEY ALWAYS SAY JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. AND I’M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT WE’RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER POSSIBLE, JUSTICE IS DELIVERED.” WHEN A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR CHOOSES TO GET MEDICAL CARE OR FILE A POLICE REPORT – AN E-R NURSE WILL TYPICALLY COLLECT A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT TO GATHER AS MUCH D- N-A EVIDENCE AS POSSIBLE – AN OFTEN- EMOTIONAL PROCESS THAT TAKES HOURS. IN MANY STATES – SURVIVORS ARE ABLE TO TRACK THEIR KIT ONLINE TO SEE WHETHER IT’S BEEN TESTED AND WHERE IT’S BEING HELD – BUT NOT IN MAINE. 00;08;01;14 “WHAT’S BEEN HEARTBREAKING TO ME IS TO KNOW THAT THOSE KITS ARE OUT THERE, UNTESTED, AND THAT THERE ARE VICTIMS WHO ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR BACK AND THEY HAVEN’T.” THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE JUST WON A NEARLY $2.5 MILLION “SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE” GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – THE FIRST IN THE STATE. THEY’LL USE IT TO DO AN INVENTORY OF ALL OF THE EXISTING KITS IN THE COUNTY, CREATE A TRACKING SYSTEM SO VICTIMS CAN GET UPDATES ABOUT THEIR CASE – AND TO TEST ANY KITS ASSOCIATED WITH NAMED VICTIM. D-A- JACQUELINE SARTORIS ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE AROUND 500 KITS SITTING IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS. 00;12;03;04 “WE’RE GOING TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE MAINE IS A LEADER IN TRACKING SEX ASSAULT KITS AND PROSECUTING THESE CASES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN SAYING TO VICTIMS, WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU MATTERS. WE’RE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. LAWMAKERS FIRST INTRODUCED A STATEWIDE KIT TRACKING BILL IN 20-17 – WHICH FAILED. LATER THEY EVENTUALLY PASSED LEGISLATION TO LAUNCH A PILOT PROJECT IN BANGOR AND AUGUSTA AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO STATEWIDE TRACKING. AS PEOPLE WORKED TO GET THAT PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING – REP. VALLI GEIGER PROPOSED A TRACKING AND INVENTORY BILL DURING THE LAST SESSION. 00;08;17;03 “I’D LIKE TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION. AND I WOULD LIKE WOMEN TO FEEL EMPOWERED AND HEALING, TO ACTUALLY GO AND HAVE THAT RAPE KIT AND AND SEE IF THEY CAN HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.” IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN BOTH CHAMBERS BUT IT DIDN’T GET TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK UNTIL AFTER THE END OF THE TERM. GOV. JANET MILLS POCKET- VETOED IT ALONG WITH A COUPLE DOZEN INITIATIVES – ARGUING THAT ENACTING THE LATE BILLS WOULD BE UN-CONSTITUTIONAL. SEN. RICK BENNETT IMMEDIATELY RESUBMITTED A HANDFUL OF THOSE BILLS – SEEING TRACKING AS A PRIORITY. 06;13;28;24 “THIS ONE IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BILL. IT’S FOR ALL PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND REALLY WE NEED TO GET WORKING ON THIS FAST.” NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES SAY STATES SHOULD INVENTORY, TRACK AND TEST ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS BECAUSE IT CREATES TRANSPARENCY, PROVIDES VALIDATION FOR VICTIMS AND HELPS CATCH SERIAL RAPISTS. SUPPORTERS FEEL LIKE THEIR ALREADY BEHIND ON THESE REFORMS, SO GEIGER IS ADDING A TESTING REQUIREMENT. 00;05;59;23 “I’M OPEN TO CONVERSATION AND I’M ABSOLUTELY OPEN TO COMPROMISE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COMPROMISE ACTUALLY CHANGES LIFE FOR MAINE WOMEN.” AS THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY D-A’S OFFICE STARTS TO PUT THE GRANT TO WORK – THEY WANT TO TALK TO VICTIMS AND KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP – IF YOU HAD A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT COLLECTED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY – AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT – YOU CA