Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced a significant development in law enforcement guidelines for sexual assault responses in New Jersey. The announcement was made during the Sexual Violence Prevention Symposium held in Trenton.

Platkin revealed that a new Directive has been issued, expanding the standard Sexual Assault Response Team activation period from five to seven days from the time the incident is reported. This extension aims to provide survivors of sexual assault with more time to access trauma-informed services.

Speaking at the symposium, Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of adapting law enforcement guidance to advancements in forensic science, stating, "Expanding SART activation and response time further is well supported by research and will provide more victims and survivors of sexual violence with an opportunity to access available services."

The Directive was unveiled at the New Jersey State Police Forensic Technology Center in Hamilton, during an event hosted by the Office of the Attorney General, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA).

Patricia Teffenhart, Executive Director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, expressed support for the new Directive, stating, "The new Directive reinforces the Department’s commitment to using every tool available to us. Using science and data to inform updates to our policies and practices ensures that survivors of sexual assault have access to every resource at our disposal to support them in the aftermath of victimization."

Director of Criminal Justice J. Stephen Ferketic highlighted the importance of policies that provide victims of sexual violence with more time to meet with a forensic nurse examiner, stating, "These policies lead to well-prepared medical documents, appropriately stored specimens, and photographic images that will improve prosecutions."

This recent Directive is part of a series of initiatives implemented by the Department of Law and Public Safety to enhance support for survivors of sexual violence. These initiatives include the creation of the Human Trafficking Unit, the establishment of VIVA, and the implementation of standards for the collection and retention of sexual assault kits.

The Attorney General's Office has also secured federal funding to establish an advanced tracking system for the state's Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Kits. These kits are crucial in preserving physical evidence collected from medical forensic examinations conducted by qualified nurses after an individual has experienced an act of sexual violence.

In line with these efforts, the Department of Law and Public Safety is introducing the Attorney General’s Symposium Series, which will address different types of victimization throughout the year. The next event in the series will focus on community violence in June.