GENERAL ORDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OPERATIONS
TITLE: SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF
GENERAL ORDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OPERATIONS
TITLE: SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF
SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS
601.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the investigation of sexual assaults. These guidelines will address some of the unique aspects of such cases and the effects that these crimes have on the victims. Mandatory notification requirements are addressed in the Child Abuse and Adult Abuse policies.
601.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
SEXUAL ASSAULT - Any crime or attempted crime of a sexual nature, to include but not limited to offenses defined in Ala. Code § 13A-6-60 et seq.
SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM (SART) - A multidisciplinary team generally comprises advocates; law enforcement officers; forensic medical examiners, including sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFEs) or sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) if possible; forensic laboratory personnel; and prosecutors. The team is designed to coordinate a broad response to sexual assault victims.
601.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Police Department that its members, when responding to reports of sexual assaults, will strive to minimize the trauma experienced by the victims, and will aggressively investigate sexual assaults, pursue expeditious apprehension and conviction of perpetrators, and protect the safety of the victims and the community.
601.3 QUALIFIED INVESTIGATOR(S)
Qualified investigator(s) should be available for assignment of sexual assault investigations. These investigator(s) should:
(a) Have specialized training in, and be familiar with, interview techniques and the medical and legal issues that are specific to sexual assault investigations.
(b) Conduct follow-up interviews and investigation.
(c) Present appropriate cases of alleged sexual assault to the prosecutor for review.
(d) Coordinate with other enforcement agencies, social service agencies, and medical personnel as needed.
(e) Provide referrals to therapy services, victim advocates, and support for the victim.
(f) Participate in or coordinate with SART, the Clay County Children's Center, and/or other multidisciplinary investigative teams as applicable.
601.4 REPORTING
In all reported or suspected cases of sexual assault, a report should be written and assigned for follow-up investigation. This includes incidents in which the allegations appear unfounded or unsubstantiated.
601.5 RELEASING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC
All information to be released to the public and/or the media must be approved by the Chief of Police.
In cases where the perpetrator is not known to the victim, and especially if there are multiple crimes where more than one appear to be related, consideration should be given to releasing information to the public whenever there is a reasonable likelihood that doing so may result in developing helpful investigative leads. The Criminal Investigations supervisor should weigh the risk of alerting the suspect to the investigation with the need to protect the victim and the public, and to prevent more crimes.
601.6 TRAINING
Subject to available resources, periodic training should be provided to:
(a) Members who are first responders. Training should include:
Initial response to sexual assaults.
Legal issues.
Victim advocacy.
Victim's response to trauma.
(b) Qualified investigator(s), should receive advanced training on additional topics, which may include, but may not be limited to:
Interviewing sexual assault victims.
SART or multidisciplinary response team.
Medical and legal aspects of sexual assault investigations.
Serial crimes investigations.
Use of community and other federal and state investigative resources.
Techniques for communicating with victims to minimize trauma.
601.7 VICTIM INTERVIEWS
The primary considerations in sexual assault investigations, which begin with the initial call to Communications, should be the health and safety of the victim, the preservation of evidence, and preliminary interviews to determine if a crime has been committed and to attempt to identify the suspect.
Whenever possible, a member of the SART, the Clay County Children's Center, and/or a multidisciplinary response team should be included in the initial victim interviews. Initial interviews of victims less than (18) years of age, shall be conducted, in coordination with, the Clay County Children's Center.
An in-depth follow-up interview should not be conducted until after the medical and forensic examinations are completed, and the personal needs of the victim have been met (e.g., change of clothes, bathing). The follow-up interview may be temporarily delayed based upon the circumstances. Whenever practicable, the follow-up interview should be conducted by and/or in coordination with a qualified investigator.
Victims should not be asked or required to take a polygraph examination (34 USC § 10451).
Victims should be informed of applicable victim's rights provisions, and resources available at such time.
601.8 COLLECTION AND TESTING OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Whenever possible, a SART, a multidisciplinary response team member, if available, and the on-call CID investigator shall be notified and should be involved in the collection of forensic evidence from the victim.
When the facts of the case indicate that collection of biological evidence is warranted, it should be collected regardless of how much time has elapsed since the reported assault. If a drug-facilitated sexual assault is suspected, urine and blood samples should be collected from the victim as soon as practicable.
Biological evidence from all sexual assault cases, including cases where the suspect is known by the victim, should be submitted for testing.
Victims who choose not to assist/cooperate in the investigation, and/or who should have no present desire for prosecution, or who wish to remain anonymous, may still consent to the collection of evidence under their control. In these circumstances, the evidence should be collected and stored appropriately.
601.8.1 DNA TEST RESULTS
If requested by the victim, the Police Department shall notify the victim of information and test results from the sexual assault evidence kit, including a DNA profile match, if the disclosure would not impede or compromise an ongoing law enforcement investigation (Ala. Code § 15-23-121).
A SART or the multidisciplinary response team member should be consulted regarding the best way to deliver biological testing results to a victim so as to minimize victim trauma, especially in cases where there has been a significant delay in getting biological testing results (e.g., delays in testing the evidence or delayed DNA databank hits). Members should make reasonable efforts to assist the victim by providing available information on local assistance programs and organizations as provided in the Victim and Witness Assistance Policy.
Members investigating sexual assaults cases should ensure that DNA results are entered into databases when appropriate and as soon as practicable.
601.9 DISPOSITION OF CASES
If the assigned investigator(s) has reason to believe the case is without merit, the case may be classified as unfounded only upon consultation and approval of the Criminal Investigations Division supervisor.
Classification of a sexual assault case as unfounded requires the qualified investigator(s) to consult/brief the Criminal Investigations Division supervisor of the facts of significant irregularities with reported information and that the incident could not have happened as it was reported.
601.10 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The Criminal Investigations supervisor or the authorized designee shall annually provide a detailed report to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to include (Ala. Code § 41-27-13):
(a) The number of sexual offense cases received during the prior calendar year.
(b) The number of sexual offense cases reported where evidence from a medical forensic examination was submitted for forensic analysis or, where applicable, the reason evidence was not submitted.
(c) The number of and reason for sexual assault cases that were closed due to judicial or investigative reasons.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.