New Jersey governor Phil Murphy recently signed a bipartisan bill that will allow survivors of sexual assault a greater degree of transparency in their cases.
New Jersey governor Phil Murphy recently signed a bipartisan bill that will allow survivors of sexual assault a greater degree of transparency in their cases. Those who have filed suits will be able to receive notifications of developments in their criminal cases.
The bill expands the state’s wider Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights, and passed through both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature unanimously earlier this year.
“We commend the courage and bravery exhibited by sexual assault survivors that have come forward and we are here to support them on every step of their journeys to justice,” Murphy said. He also acknowledged that these cases must be “treated with the care and consideration they deserve.”
Under this legislation, law enforcement officials are required to provide updates to survivors in four differing scenarios: “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; there is a match between the DNA profile of an assailant and another DNA profile in a data bank; and 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.”
Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, emphasizes the importance of keeping survivors informed. Maintaining detailed communication with those who have experienced traumatic events can aid in their individual healing journeys and establish trust or credibility. As a passionate advocate, Teffenhart believes that Governor Murphy and the Legislature “are once again raising New Jersey’s standard in putting survivors at the center of our justice-seeking efforts.”
Law enforcement agencies must also provide comprehensive updates on the status of evidence.
Attorney General Matt Platkin spoke to the power of the bill in a recent press release.
“With this critical legislation, Governor Murphy and the Legislature are not only increasing our chances of successfully prosecuting sexual violence offenders and diminishing their threat to public safety, they are also helping to increase survivors’ trust in our justice system,” he said.
Authors: Andy Goldwasser and Alexis Kabat
