Episode 306 | Just Improving Sexual Assault Kit Testing Workflows
Original Release Date: April 18, 2025
In episode one of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month season, Just Science sat down with Jody West, the Forensic Science Manager for the Forensic Biology Section at the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory, and Dr. Patricia Melton, a Senior Research Forensic Social Scientist at RTI International, to discuss resources aimed to help forensic science service providers (FSSPs) increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of sexual assault kit testing.
Among FSSPs, there is variability in how they approach testing sexual assault kits; some conduct serology testing of samples before moving to DNA testing, while others forego initial serology testing for a Direct-to-DNA approach. Because each processing workflow has distinct costs and benefits, the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) has developed a no-cost tool that helps FSSPs decide on, and advocate for, an approach that is efficient and feasible considering their available resources and needs. Listen along as Jody and Dr. Melton describe the varied approaches to processing workflows in the field, the challenges that FSSPs face when transitioning from one workflow to another, and how the FTCOE’s Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool for Labor Expenditure Associated With Sexual Assault Kit Processing Workflows can foster important conversations about improving sexual assault kit testing workflows.
This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (Award No. 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU).
Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
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Episode Citation
Martin, M., West, J., & Melton, P. (2025, April 18). Just Science. Just Improving Sexual Assault Kit Testing Workflows. [Audio podcast episode]. The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. https://forensiccoe.org/podcast-2025-saam-ep1/
Guest Biography
Jody West is a Forensic Scientist Manager at the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory. Mr. West has a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Agricultural Business Management. Mr. West was a member of the Forensic Biology Section from March 2003 to March 2025. Mr. West served as the Forensic Scientist Manager of the Forensic Biology Section for the last 10 ½ years where his primary role was to oversee the daily operations of the Section, which provides serological and DNA testing in forensic cases for its customers throughout the state. Mr. West is certified with the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) with a specialty in Molecular Biology, a current member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), a Certified Public Manager, and holds a green belt certification in Lean Six Sigma.
Dr. Patricia Melton is a nationally respected criminal justice researcher, author, and forensic DNA expert. As a Senior Research Forensic Scientist in the Center for Forensic Science Advancement and Application at RTI International, she develops and implements training, technical assistance, and educational strategies that help derive national best practices and policies focusing on forensics applications to resolve violent crimes. Dr. Melton is the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA’s) Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) project. In this capacity, she coordinates and directs the activities and resources that provide the requested TTA to the grantees awarded under these programs. Her previous experience includes being the Co-Director of BJA’s National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) TTA project and a senior leader on the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. Prior to her position at RTI, Dr. Melton spent nearly a decade conducting forensics DNA analysis and testimony of human identification and criminal cases in both the federal and local crime laboratory sector. Her professional positions traverse federal and local governments, academic institutions, and research organizations. Dr. Melton has authored multiple works, including book chapters, research articles, and technical reports. The majority explore solutions to complicated, often systemic issues, that hinder the ability to resolve violent criminal cases. Highlights include the following: Enacting an Improved Response to Sexual Assault: A Practitioner’s Guide to Successful Sexual Assault Response Reform, Sexual Assault Kits and Reforming Response to Rape, A Review of Legislation Associated with Lawfully Owed DNA Samples, and Measuring Everyday Life -Social Science and Testing for Sexual Assault. As a recognized leader in the field of sexual assault response reform, Dr. Melton has served on several technical working groups where she has contributed to evidence-based policies and practices. She was a member of the NIJ Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) working group that authored the National Best Practices for Sexual Assault Kits: A Multidisciplinary Approach report. She also served on the North Carolina Department of Justice working group that authored legislation (Survivor Act) to address untested sexual assault kits across the state. A focal point of her work is dedicated to bridging the gap between research and the adoption of national recommendations to resolve violent crime and improve community safety.
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