~Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting
What a survivor shares with a CSVA is confidential with a few exceptions: if there is a disclosure of child abuse by a family member or caretaker, if there is a disclosure of the abuse of a vulnerable adult (which is a person over the age of 18 that lacks the ability to care for themselves), or if there is a clear threat to harm themselves or another person. By law, the CSVA is required to breach confidentiality and report these incidents to the proper authorities.
~Survivors Reporting to Law Enforcement
The decision to report the sexual assault is completely up to the survivor.
Here at the UCRCC, we believe in empowering survivors to find their voices and regain control of their lives. While it is true that the sooner law enforcement is able to begin investigating, the better the chances are of gathering evidence, we would NEVER force anyone to go through any part of the process they were not ready for. The survivor still has the right to have the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) done, even if they choose not to report. This is called the "Jane Doe" or "John Doe" option.
~Jane/John Doe
Choosing to go Jane or John Doe enables a victim to have forensic evidence collected without reporting to law enforcement officers. Upon completion of the exam, survivors are provided with a code number they can use to identify themselves with should they choose to report at a later date. If the survivor is:
- Under the age of eighteen (18), they have up to twenty (20) years after their 18th birthday;
- Eighteen (18) years of age and over, the kit is held for twenty (20) years.
limitations for sexual assault. NJCASA | The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault. https://njcasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Civil-Statute-of-Limitations.pdf
The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/oag/njvictims/pdfs/Civil-Sexual-Assault-Statute-of-Limitations-One-Pager.pdf