5-23-17 Battle to Muckrock

May 18, 2017 MuckRock DEPT MR 37299 411A Highland Ave. Somerville, MA 02144-2516 RE: Rape Kit FOIA Dear Ms. Grinberg: This letter will acknowledge your correspondence requesting documents and information pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. We received your correspondence on May 5, 2017. We respond to your requests as follows: 1. All standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process. Response: All the policies and procedures for the Myrtle Beach Police Department (“MBPD”) are available online in a PDF format at http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/police/forms/Policies%20and%20Procedures%20Manual.pdf This PDF can be searched for terms relating to your request. 2. Any written policies or procedures regarding department practices on the acquisition of or handling of rape kit evidence, including protocols for its collection, testing, and delegation and transfer to all other possibly relevant locations, laboratories, or agencies. Response: See response to request #1. 3. The number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed. Response: The MBPD has collected 478 sexual assault kits. 4. The number of kits that have been processed by a public or private crime or forensic 1 laboratory or equivalent processing location from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed. Response: All sexual assault kits have been submitted to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (“SLED”) to be processed. 5. The number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department's jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations. Response: 0 6. Any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data. Response: Please contact me at your nearest convenience to discuss this request. 7. All audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits. Response: There have not been any audits involving the MBPD and the collection or backlog of sexual assault kits. 8. All proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits. Response: There are no proposed alterations to the MBPD’s policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of sexual assault kits. Should you have any questions regarding any of the above, please contact my office at: Battle Law Firm, LLC PO Box 530 Conway, SC 29528 T: 843-248-4321 Sincerely, James R. Battle Counsel for Myrtle Beach Police Department 2