Bill

Bill > A2818


NJ A2818

Establishes right of sexual assault victim to notification of certain developments in criminal case.


summary

Introduced
02/28/2022
In Committee
10/13/2022
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2024

Introduced Session

2022-2023 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires sexual assault victims to be notified of certain developments concerning the evidence in their case. Specifically, the bill expands the State's Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to give sexual assault victims the right to be informed if: (1) a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained from the processing of evidence in the sexual assault case; (2) a DNA profile of an assailant has been entered into any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; (3) there is a match between the DNA profile of an assailant obtained in the sexual assault case and any DNA profile contained in any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; and (4) sexual assault evidence is submitted to a forensic laboratory, if that evidence is compared against any data bank, and the results of the comparison. Under the bill, upon a victim's request, the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a sexual assault case is required to inform the victim of the status of the processing of all evidence collected in that case. The bill authorizes the victim to designate another person of the victim's choosing to receive information requested by the sexual assault victim or any notice required by the bill. The victim is responsible for keeping the law enforcement agency informed of the name, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address of the person to whom the information should be provided, and of any changes in this information.

AI Summary

This bill expands the New Jersey Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to give sexual assault victims the right to be informed about certain developments in their case. Specifically, the bill requires law enforcement to notify victims if a DNA profile of the assailant was obtained, entered into a DNA database, or matched to a profile in the database (with some exceptions to avoid compromising an ongoing investigation). Upon request, the law enforcement agency must also inform the victim of the status of the processing of all evidence collected in the case. The victim can designate another person to receive this information, and the agency must provide timely updates. The failure to provide this notification to the victim does not invalidate a conviction or sentence.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (5)

Last Action

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 10/13/2022)

bill text


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