After months of emotional testimony from women, new laws expand rape victims’ rights
Updated Apr 19, 2021;
Sexual assault victims would be entitled to copies of police reports and be notified when prosecutors are filing charges against their assailants under a package of bills Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Monday.
The goal of the seven-bill package, which would also give victims a chance to seek “restorative justice” should they decide not to report the crime, is to create a criminal justice system that is more respectful and responsive to victims, said Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, a prime sponsor of the legislation.
Bills expanding rights for rape victims in N.J. heads to Gov. Murphy
Updated Mar 02, 2021;
Posted Mar 01, 2021
State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics at a recent public forum. In foreground, Kathryn McClure, right, attorney for Katie Brennan, left, who accused a former aide to Gov. Phil Murphy s campaign of rape, testifies.
Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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The state Legislature has sent Gov. Phil Murphy seven bills to protect the rights of victims of sexual assault in New Jersey and reexamine how police and the courts in the state handle cases of sexual assault, rape and sexual harassment.
N.J. Senate passes bills expanding rights for rape victims
Updated Dec 18, 2020;
Posted Dec 17, 2020
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics at a recent public forum. In foreground, Kathryn McClure, right, attorney for Katie Brennan, left, who accused a former aide to Gov. Phil Murphy s campaign of rape, testifies.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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Prosecutors would be required to notify victims of sexual assault about whether charges will be filed against their assailants under a bill passed by the New Jersey Senate on Thursday.
NJ Senate set to approve bills addressing sexual assault
TRENTON An eight-bill package addressing sexual assault is scheduled for state Senate approval Thursday – protecting the rights of survivors, improving police and judicial case management and training and putting state harassment and discrimination policies into law.
Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said the proposals are common sense. She in particular touts S3070, a proposed three-year “Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program” bringing survivors and their abusers together to seek collective healing solutions outside of the judicial system.
“These are not, for the most part, bills that could be argued go a bridge too far. They are reasonable and necessary, drafted in response to survivors’ articulated needs,” Teffenhart said.