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In November 2018, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued the Attorney General Standards for Providing Services to Victims of Sexual Assault, Third Edition (“Standards”). The Standards provide a set of fourteen protocols that prioritize the needs and concerns of sexual assault victims in New Jersey. Most importantly, the Standards ensure that victims are treated with respect and understanding in the days, weeks, and months after reporting an assault. Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault Understanding the Services Available to Sexual Assault Victims in New Jersey
The Standards focus on delivering services to victims in a timely and non-judgmental manner. This victimcentered approach includes:
- ensuring the victim’s safety is the top priority;
- respecting the integrity, choices, and autonomy of each victim;
- protecting the victim’s privacy and confidential information;
- identifying and responding to the obstacles some victims may face when seeking help; and
- recognizing the importance of victim feedback in improving responses to sexual assault.
Under the Standards, each County has a specially trained team of qualified professionals called the Sexual Assault Response Team or SART, who assist victims of sexual assault and work together to meet the victim’s needs. A SART consists of a law enforcement officer, a forensic nurse examiner, and a confidential sexual violence advocate. Victims decide for themselves which members of the SART they would like to assist them. In New Jersey, SART services are available to individuals 13 years of age and older who disclose an incident of sexual assault within five days of when it occurred. The Attorney General Standards for Providing Services to Victims of Sexual Assault is available here: www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases18/AG-SART-Standards.pdf
Please direct any concerns or feedback regarding a SART response to the County SART Coordinator. In the event you believe a concern was not adequately addressed, you may report the issue to the Statewide SART Advisory Board, which provides oversight to the County SARTs. Reports can be made anonymously. You may contact the Statewide SART Advisory Board by phone at (609) 815-2797 or via email SARTBoard@njoag.gov.
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