Governor Murphy Signs Bipartisan Legislation Expanding Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights
On Tuesday, September 3, Governor Murphy signed S1017/A3748 into law, expanding NJ’s Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights (SAVBR) by requiring that victims of sexual assault be notified of certain developments concerning the evidence of their respective cases.
Additionally, the law expands the opportunity for survivors to designate individuals who are supporting them to receive information regarding any advancements in their case.
A3748/S1017 is a meaningful and necessary update to the SAVBR. More details are available in the Press Release from the Governor’s Office.
According to the Press Release, the following developments in sexual assault investigations are now explicitly required to be shared with the victim:
If a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained during the processing of evidence
If a DNA profile of an assailant has been entered into a data bank used for the retention or comparison of case evidence
If there is a match between the DNA profile of an assailant and another DNA profile in any data bank used for the retention or comparison of case evidence
If sexual assault evidence is submitted to a forensic laboratory, if that evidence is compared against any data bank, and the results of the comparison
At the request of the victim, the law enforcement agency responsible for the sexual assault investigation must provide updates on the status of all evidence collected. Another individual may be designated by the victim to receive the same information regarding any advancements in the case.
We at Family Service League/SAVE of Essex County commend Governor Murphy and his administration for making these necessary expansions and honoring the rights and self-determination of victims and survivors across the state. This update reinforces our collective commitment to upholding the rights of survivors everywhere.
