Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes sexual assault training requirements for law enforcement officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning sexual assault training for law enforcement officers, and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Division of Criminal Justice shall develop a training course and curriculum for law enforcement officers on the handling, investigation and response procedures for reports of sexual assault. This training course and curriculum shall be reviewed at least every two years by the Division of Criminal Justice and modified as need may require. The Division of Criminal Justice shall distribute the curriculum to all local police agencies.
b. The Attorney General shall be responsible for ensuring that all law enforcement officers complete:
(1) initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer; and
(2) in-service training of at least four hours biennially thereafter.
c. The Division of Criminal Justice shall ensure that all training on the handling of sexual assault matters includes information concerning the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, established pursuant to P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-50 et seq.), and the availability of local support programs for the victims of sexual assault.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish mandatory sexual assault training for law enforcement officers.
Under the provisions of the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice is to develop a training program and curriculum on the handling, investigation and response procedures for reports of sexual assault. All law enforcement officers would be required to attend initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer to another law enforcement agency. Permanently appointed law enforcement officers would be required to attend a four hour in-service program every other year.
The curriculum is to include information concerning the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program and the availability of local support programs for the victims of sexual assault.