This report presents the main findings and recommendations of the comprehensive review of the West Valley City Police Department's (Utah) sexual assault investigative process, both within and outside the agency's domain.
Over the past several years, the West Valley City Police Department (WVCPD) has reviewed and taken action to improve its response to sexual assault. It adopted a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach in responding to all reports of sexual assault. WVCPD personnel received comprehensive training in conducting a trauma-informed victim interview, and the agency partnered with a forensic nursing professor in conducting the training and assessing its impact. The assessment showed that the training improved the quality of victim interviews and victim satisfaction with the interviews. There was also an increase in the number of sexual assault cases prosecuted. In 2015, WVCPD partnered with the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to address the backlog of previously untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) in West Valley City and other law enforcement agencies in Utah. The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) is a federal program that assists jurisdictions in addressing untested SAKs. The SAKI Training and Technical Assistance Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) conducted an assessment of WVCPD's efforts under the SAKI. Assessment findings are organized by the response stage, beginning with the initial response to the reported sexual assault to the closure of the investigation. The overall conclusion of the assessment is that WVCPD has implemented many positive and promising practices in its management of sexual assault cases; however, there is a need to address gaps and challenges. This report describes the key strengths of the WVCPD and presents recommendations for improvement based on the findings of the assessment team. 3 tables, 11 references, and appended instruments used in the assessment