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S3755
SENATE, No. 3755
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Concerns sexual assault training for prosecutors.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning sexual assault training for prosecutors and amending P.L.2021, c.66
and P.L.2001, c.81.
����
Be It Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.2021,
c.66 (C.52:4B-54.2) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.��� a. The Division of
Criminal Justice shall develop or approve a
[
triennial
]
biennial
in-service training course and curriculum specifically for every county
prosecutor and each assistant county prosecutor to whom sexual assault cases
are assigned on how to appropriately handle, investigate, and respond to
reports of sexual assault.
���� b.��� The training course and
curriculum shall include
:
����
(1)
�� a component
emphasizing the value of restorative justice in sexual assault cases
;
����
(2)�� a component on
cultural competency, including an understanding of the intersectionality of
race, gender, and socioeconomic status in sexual assault cases;
����
(3)�� a module on emotional
intelligence and counseling techniques designed to support victims of sexual
assault and harassment, emphasizing empathetic communication and psychological
support to ensure victims are treated with sensitivity throughout their contact
with the prosecutor�s office; and�
����
(4)�� a module on
victim-centered approaches with a focus on trauma-informed care, victim safety,
and the importance of maintaining victim autonomy throughout the victim�s
contact with the prosecutor�s office.� This includes strategies to minimize the
re-traumatization of a victim and to ensure a victim�s interests are
acknowledged and respected
.
���� c.���� The division shall make
the training course and curriculum available to all county prosecutor's offices
in the State.
���� d.��� The division shall
review the training course and curriculum every
[
five years
]
year
,
in consultation with nationally recognized trainers with expertise in trauma
informed care and the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and make any
necessary modifications.
���� e.���� The division may make
the training course and curriculum available in an online format, but
prosecutors shall complete the course and curriculum in person every
[
six
]
two
years.
���� f.���� The Attorney General
shall be responsible for ensuring that all county prosecutors and appropriate
assistant county prosecutors
[
triennially
]
biennially
complete the in-service training on handling sexual assault matters required by
this section.�
The Attorney General also shall implement a system to
evaluate compliance with the training requirements that includes a periodic
audit of county prosecutors� offices and a mechanism for addressing
noncompliance.
���� g.��� A county prosecutor or
assistant county prosecutor appointed after the effective date of P.L.2021,
c.66 (C.52:4B-54.2 et al.) shall complete the training course and curriculum
within 60 days of the prosecutor's initial appointment.� The division shall determine
whether training in the handling of sexual assault cases completed by a
prosecutor appointed prior to the effective date of P.L.2021, c.66
(C.52:4B-54.2 et al.) complies with the requirements of this section.� If the
training does not comply with these requirements, the prosecutor shall complete
the training course and curriculum required by this section within 60 days of
the effective date of P.L.2021, c.66 (C.52:4B-54.2 et al.).
���� h.��� The division shall
develop an open process pursuant to which the division will accept bids by
organizations to assist in developing and providing the training required by
this section.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.66, s.1)
���� 2.��� Section 8 of P.L.2001,
c.81 (C.52:4B-56) is amended to read as follows:
���� 8.��� The Attorney General
shall establish a sexual assault unit within the Division of Criminal Justice
in the Department of Law and Public Safety which shall include a sexual assault
investigator
[
and
]
,
a
certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiner
, and a rape care advocate.�
As used in this section, a rape care advocate means the same as that term is
defined in section 4 of P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-52)
.
���� The unit shall consult with
the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance in its oversight of
the operation of the county sexual assault nurse examiner programs, and provide
assistance to counties in the investigation and prosecution of sexual
assaults.� The unit shall review all complaints received regarding a county�s
investigation and prosecution of a sexual assault and shall provide
recommendations to the Attorney General regarding the county�s investigation
and prosecution of the case.� The unit also shall provide training to law
enforcement officials and county prosecutors, on an ongoing basis, in the
investigation and prosecution of sexual assault.� Any training the unit may
provide to county prosecutors and assistant county prosecutors shall comply
with the requirements of section 1 of P.L.2021, c.66 (C.52:4B-54.2).
(cf: P.L.2023, c.167, s.13)
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill revises training
requirements concerning sexual assault cases for prosecutors and assistant
prosecutors.
���� Currently, the Division of
Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety is required to
develop or approve triennial in-service training for county prosecutors and
assistant county prosecutors assigned sexual assault cases.� This bill increases
the frequency of the training to every two years.
���� In addition to the current
requirement that the curriculum include a component emphasizing the value of
restorative justice, the bill also specifies that the curriculum is required to
include:
���� (1)�� a component on cultural
competency, including an understanding of the intersectionality of race,
gender, and socioeconomic status in sexual assault cases;
���� (2)�� a module on emotional
intelligence and counseling techniques designed to support victims of sexual
assault and harassment, emphasizing empathetic communication and psychological
support to ensure victims are treated with sensitivity throughout their contact
with the prosecutor�s office; and
���� (3)�� a module on
victim-centered approaches with a focus on trauma-informed care, victim safety,
and the importance of maintaining victim autonomy throughout the victim�s
contact with the prosecutor�s office. This includes strategies to minimize the
re-traumatization of a victim and to ensure a victim�s interests are
acknowledged and respected.
���� Under the bill, the division
is required to review the training curriculum every year.� Currently, the
requirement is for a review every five years.� The training course and
curriculum are currently available in an on-line format; however, prosecutors
are required to attend training in person every six years.� The bill increases
the frequency for prosecutors to train in-person to every two years.��
���� The bill also requires that
Attorney General (AG) implement a system to evaluate compliance with the
training requirements set forth in the bill, including a periodic audit of
county prosecutors� offices. The bill also requires the AG to develop a mechanism
to address noncompliance.
���� Finally, the bill requires
that the sexual assault unit within the division include a rape care advocate.�
Currently, the sexual assault unit includes a sexual assault investigator and a
certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiner.