On March 13th, 2023, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General issued Law Enforcement Directive 2023-1. With this directive, the retention time for "hold" kits (what we call the kits collected when the survivor chooses to go Jane/John Doe) is extended from 5 years from the date of collection to 20 years from the date of collection or -if a minor - 20 years from the minor's 18th birthday. This provides survivors with additional time to decide if they want to pursue their case, or not.
Healing is a non-linear, ongoing process that looks different for each survivor. Having this extension allows the survivor to heal and cope in their own way, then decide if/when to continue with the process when they are ready.
To learn more about Law Enforcement Directive 2023-1 and the impact it will have on evidence collection and retention, click HERE.