Overview#
Sexual assault cases are among the most demanding investigations law enforcement handles. Survivors often disclose days or weeks after an incident. Memory fragmentation, counter-intuitive behaviour, and delayed reporting are well-documented neurobiological responses to trauma, not indicators of unreliability. An investigator who understands that, and who has the tools to document, coordinate, and track evidence and services across multiple agencies, is far better placed to build a case that reaches court.
Argus Sexual Assault Investigation and Victim Services supports law enforcement agencies, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), victim advocates, prosecutors, and campus public safety. The platform coordinates forensic medical examinations, manages DNA evidence through CODIS, tracks victim services, and supports prosecution from initial report through sentencing.
Open Standards#
- NIEM 6.0 (National Information Exchange Model): Case, incident, and subject data is serialised as NIEM 6.0 JSON-LD for export to records management systems and inter-agency data sharing, using the Justice (JXDM 7.2) and Core namespaces.
- W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model v2.0: Every evidence collection event and chain-of-custody transfer is issued as a signed W3C VC (Ed25519 + DID), giving each item a tamper-evident, court-admissible provenance record.
- RFC 3161 (Internet X.509 PKI Time-Stamp Protocol): Evidence exports can be countersigned by a trusted timestamp authority under RFC 3161, embedding a TSA token that proves the export existed at a specific time before any later dispute.
- ISO 19005 PDF/A (Parts 1, 4): Investigation packages exported for court submission are rendered as ISO 19005-compliant PDF/A documents (selectable from strict PDF/A-1B through next-generation PDF/A-4F) to meet long-term archival requirements imposed by judicial rules.
- FIPS 180-4 SHA-256: Every evidence file is fingerprinted with a SHA-256 digest on ingestion and re-verified on export; the hash is embedded in the Verifiable Credential subject to detect any tampering throughout the custody chain.
- CODIS / NDIS (FBI Combined DNA Index System): DNA profiles collected during forensic medical examinations are formatted and submitted to CODIS/NDIS for database matching, enabling serial-offender links across cases and jurisdictions.
- RFC 8032 Ed25519: Evidence export packages and Verifiable Credentials are signed with Ed25519 keys; the compact signature scheme is chosen for its performance and resistance to side-channel attacks in custody-transfer workflows.
Last Reviewed: 2026-02-04 Last Updated: 2026-04-14
Key Features#
Trauma-Informed Investigation Protocols#
Sexual assault victims commonly experience fragmented memories, delayed disclosure, and behaviour that can seem inconsistent to investigators unfamiliar with trauma neurobiology. The platform implements research-based interview protocols that maximise evidence collection while minimising re-traumatisation. Structured interview guides, cognitive interview techniques, and documentation templates help investigators capture complete accounts while respecting survivor autonomy.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordination#
SANEs are specially trained registered nurses who conduct forensic medical examinations, collect biological evidence, document injuries, and provide medical care to survivors. The platform coordinates SANE programme scheduling, evidence kit tracking, and medical testimony preparation.
Anonymous exam options allow a survivor to have evidence collected without filing a police report. The victim retains control over whether that evidence is released to law enforcement, with preservation periods of five to twenty years depending on jurisdiction. This approach removes a significant barrier to coming forward.
CODIS Integration and Serial Offender Detection#
The platform automates DNA profile submission to CODIS, monitors for database hits, and coordinates serial offender investigations. When a hit comes back linking evidence from multiple cases, the system surfaces those connections across the investigation files involved, regardless of which agency holds each case.
Backlogged evidence kit tracking ensures kits are submitted, processed, and monitored rather than sitting untested in property rooms.
Victim-Centred Advocacy and Services#
Survivors need more than an investigation. The platform coordinates crisis counselling, medical care, legal advocacy, housing assistance, and long-term therapy referrals across healthcare, advocacy, law enforcement, and prosecution stakeholders. Victim rights management tracks notification obligations covering case status, court dates, plea offers, and defendant custody changes.
Campus Sexual Assault and Title IX Coordination#
College and university campuses experience elevated rates of sexual assault, requiring coordinated response between campus public safety, Title IX offices, student health services, and local law enforcement. The platform manages parallel investigation processes, dual reporting systems, and the distinct obligations of Title IX proceedings alongside criminal investigations.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordination#
Sexual Assault Response Teams include law enforcement, medical professionals, victim advocates, and prosecutors. The platform provides a shared case view with role-appropriate access, joint investigation planning, coordinated service delivery, and documented communication across all SART members.
Use Cases#
- Complex Assault Investigation: Coordinate forensic examination, evidence kit tracking, CODIS submission, and law enforcement investigation in a single workflow.
- Serial Predator Identification: Use CODIS hits and pattern analysis to link cases across jurisdictions and build multi-incident prosecution packages.
- Cold Case Kit Analysis: Process and analyse backlogged sexual assault evidence kits with modern DNA technology and cross-case matching.
- Campus Coordination: Manage parallel Title IX and criminal investigation processes with appropriate information barriers between proceedings.
- Victim Services: Track survivor access to crisis counselling, advocacy, legal support, and long-term services from initial report through case closure.
Integration#
- CODIS and forensic DNA laboratory systems
- SANE programme scheduling and medical records
- Victim notification and advocacy platforms
- Campus public safety and Title IX management systems
- Records management and court case management
- Evidence management for chain of custody continuity
- Rape crisis centre referral networks
- Multi-agency SART coordination platforms