New Jersey passes bill for rape kit tracking system
TRENTON, N.J. - In the Garden State, sexual assault survivors are one step closer to having a little more transparency in their investigation.
Both houses in Trenton have unanimously passed a bipartisan bill that would require the Attorney General to establish a rape kit tracking system.
If signed into law, the internet-based system would allow victims to track their evidence kit through the chain of custody from the time of collection to the lab testing to its completion.
Democratic Assemblywoman and primary sponsor Verlina Reynolds-Jackson hopes it will improve accountability in the judicial system.
"It's going to empower our victims to be able to speak up and be able to see how their voices are being heard," said Reynolds-Jackson (D-NJ 15th District).
Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis is another primary sponsor of the bill. "This puts the power back into the victims' hands where they can watch it every step of the way," said Matsikoudis (R-NJ 21st District).
Lawmakers say an online tracking system is long overdue, noting that most other states already have a system like this one in place.
"We are only one of ten states that do not have this," said Matiskoudis.
"It is very important for survivors because right now they don't have any way of knowing what's happening with their kit and sometimes that makes them lose confidence in the system," said Varonda Kendrick of Mercer county-based Younity, which works directly with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. "For them to be able to have some type of tracking would give them more hope that something is actually happening with their case."
"Creating this platform, the time is certainly due," said Robert Baran, Co-Director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "We're excited to see it moving forward and are excited to be involved in the process of ensuring that it's rolled out in a way that is survivor-centric."
The bill now heads to the Governor's desk.