South Portland-Based Initiative: Cumberland County Gets $2.5M Federal Grant for Sexual Assault Kit Testing

Cumberland County District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris announced her office received a nearly $2.5 million, three-year federal grant. The United States Department of Justice and Senators King and Collins awarded the funding for the Cumberland County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.

The initiative anticipates transporting approximately 500 sexual assault examination kits, currently stored at various law enforcement departments within Cumberland County, including South Portland, for out-of-state testing during the grant period. The District Attorney's office has partnered with several organizations to implement this program. These partners include the Maine State Police Crime Lab, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Sexual Assault Response Service of Southern Maine, and the Office of the Attorney General.

The Board of Cumberland County Commissioners authorized the acceptance of this federal grant award at their meeting on December 9, 2024.