Survivors Have the Right to...
- Choose whether to report to law enforcement.
- Be free from any suggestion that they must report the crime to have their rights guaranteed.
- Be free from any suggestion that victims should refrain from reporting crimes in order to avoid unwanted personal publicity.
- Have their report of sexual assault treated seriously.
- Existing medical, counseling, mental health, or other services available for victims of sexual assault, whether or not the crime is reported to law enforcement.
- Treatment and interviews provided in a language in which the victim is fluent.
- Assistive devices to accommodate disabilities that the victim may have.
- Testing for HIV or any other sexually transmitted infections and assistance with compelling and disclosing the results of testing for a communicable disease from the person who caused harm.
- Evidence collection and preservation. Evidence collection is time sensitive and should occur within seven days of the assault. Survivors can choose to have evidence collected whether or not they pursue a criminal case. All forensic evidence is retained for a minimum of twenty years. If the survivor chooses to report to police, either at the time of collection or later, they can request information on the status of the evidence.
- Financial compensation. The Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) offers assistance with accessing compensation for expenses that occurred as a result of an assault, including the cost of mental health counseling, medical bills, relocation, and loss of earnings. Survivors can reach the VCCO at (877) 658-2221 or www.NJVictims.org.
- A civil protective order. Under the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act of 2015, survivors can seek a civil protective order against the person who caused them harm if there is risk of further harm.
- The no-cost services of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), if the survivor is over the age of 13. A SART is comprised of a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate (CSVA), a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), and a Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE).
The survivor can choose to work with one, two, or all three of the SART members.