Bill > S2535

This bill, known as the "Sexual Assault Victims' Rights Act," establishes specific rights for victims of sexual assault in New Jersey to be informed about their criminal cases. It defines key terms such as "law enforcement agency" as any state or local entity responsible for enforcing criminal laws, "sexual assault case" as an investigation or prosecution involving a reported, physically evidenced, or eyewitness-attested sexual assault offense, and "sexual assault offense" as a violation of a specific state statute related to sexual assault. The bill grants victims the right to request and receive updates on the processing of evidence collected in their case, including whether a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained, entered into a data bank, or matched with existing profiles, provided such disclosure doesn't hinder an ongoing investigation. Victims can also be informed when evidence is sent to a forensic laboratory and the results of any comparisons. The law allows victims to designate another person to receive this information and requires law enforcement agencies to provide updates in a timely manner, with victims needing to provide their contact information. Importantly, the bill clarifies that failure to comply with these notification requirements will not be grounds for overturning a conviction or sentence, and the accused or convicted party has no right to object to any such failure.