Bill > A3936

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 developments in their criminal cases. It defines key terms such as "law enforcement agency" as any state or local authority responsible for enforcing criminal laws, and "sexual assault case" as an investigation or prosecution where a sexual assault is reported, physical evidence exists, or there is eyewitness evidence. A "sexual assault offense" is defined by a specific New Jersey statute (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and a "victim" includes the person assaulted or their designated representative. The bill mandates that upon request, law enforcement agencies must inform victims about the status of evidence processing in their case, including whether a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained, entered into a data bank, or matched any existing profiles, as well as when evidence is submitted to a forensic laboratory and the results of any comparisons. These notification rights are in addition to existing rights for crime victims and can be communicated in writing or via email, with victims having the option to designate another person to receive this information. The law also specifies that law enforcement agencies must provide this information in a timely manner and inform victims of significant changes, requiring victims to provide their contact details. Importantly, the bill clarifies that failure to comply with these notification requirements will not be grounds for overturning a conviction or sentence, and individuals accused or convicted of a crime against the victim cannot object to any non-compliance.