About the Board
SB25-304 created the Sex Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board (Board) in the Department of Law. SB26-095 changed the name of the Board to the Sexual Assault Response Review Board to better reflect the full scope of the Board’s work.
Under SB25-304, the Board is directed to:
- Review and monitor the effectiveness of the current protocols, standards, and training practices for the medical, law enforcement, and criminal-legal system response to sexual assault;
- Develop recommendations to improve specific protocols, standards, and training practices for the medical, law enforcement, and criminal-legal system response to sexual assault;
- Ensure victim-centered implementation of provisions regarding medical forensic exams for victims of sexual assault in the federal “Violence Against Women Act of 1994”;
- Provide ongoing review of data and information regarding the needs, priorities, and services for responding to sexual assault throughout the state;
- Monitor the effectiveness of laws concerning sexual assault and make recommendations to the general assembly to improve their effectiveness;
- Make recommendations to the general assembly concerning the response to sexual assault, including medical forensic evidence, law enforcement reporting, and victim experience; and
- On or before December 15, 2025, submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly. Annual reports on or before November 1, 2026, thereafter.
Board Members
The Attorney General and the Governor have appointed the following members to the Board:
- The executive director of the Colorado district attorneys’ council or their designee
- Jessica Dotter, Colorado District Attorneys’ Council
- A representative of a statewide nonprofit organization that offers training and expert advice to sexual assault programs
- Gina Lopez, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- A representative of a statewide nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance to victims of sexual assault
- Emily Tofte Nestaval, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
- A representative of a statewide organization that provides training and technical assistance for medical forensic exams
- Megan McCulley, UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central
- A representative of a statewide association of chiefs of police
- John Koch, Colorado Springs Police Department
- A representative of a statewide association of sheriffs
- Steve Nowlin, Montezuma County Sheriff
- Three representatives from organizations that provide services or advocate for communities that experience disproportionate rates of sexual assault
- Ashley Jellison, Colorado Children’s Alliance
- Hanni Raley, The Arc of Aurora and Think Change
- Faith Koehler, Archuleta County Public Health Department
- Up to three members, at the discretion of the attorney general, whose contributions the attorney general determines would be valuable to the work of the review board
- Laura Patlan, The Blue Bench
- Natalie Seils, Department of Public Safety and Survivor Advocate
- Elizabeth Wilmer, Office of Victim Assistance, University of Colorado
- A representative of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety who has oversight of the statewide sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking system created in section 24-33.5-113.5
- Jill Nore, Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice
- A representative of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety who has oversight of federal and state victim service funding and victim rights compliance.
- Kelly Kissell, Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice
Open Board Member Seat
The Colorado Sexual Assault Response Review Board has three new seats per the requirements of SB26-095. One seat is for a victim-survivor representing a rural community, one seat for a victim-survivor representing a metro or urban community, and one seat is for a representative from a municipal crime laboratory. The application windows for these seats have closed.