(a) Upon the initial interaction with a sexual assault victim, a law enforcement officer or medical provider shall provide the victim with a card to be developed by every local law enforcement agency, in consultation with sexual assault experts, that explains all of the rights of sexual assault victims in clear language that is comprehensible to a person proficient in English at the fifth grade level, in at least 12-point font, and available in all major languages of the state. This card shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A clear statement that a sexual assault victim is not required to participate in the criminal justice system or to receive a medical evidentiary or physical examination in order to retain his or her rights under law.
(2) Telephone or Internet Web site contact information for a nearby rape crisis center and sexual assault counselor.
(3) Information about the types of law enforcement protection available to the sexual assault victim, including a temporary protection order, and the process to obtain that protection.
(4) Instructions for requesting the results of the analysis of the victim’s sexual assault forensic evidence.
(5) Information about state and federal compensation funds for medical and other costs associated with the sexual assault and information on any municipal, state, or federal right to restitution for sexual assault victims if a criminal trial occurs.
(6) A clear statement that the victim has the right to have a sexual assault counselor and at least one other support person of the victim’s choosing present at any initial medical evidentiary examination, physical examination, or investigative interview arising out of a sexual assault, and that a sexual assault counselor can be contacted 24 hours a day.
(7) Information about the rate of potential evidence degradation.
(8) A clear statement that if sexual assault forensic evidence will be tested, it should be transported to the crime laboratory and analyzed within the time limits imposed by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 803.
(9) A clear statement that the law enforcement agency or crime laboratory will retain the sexual assault forensic evidence for at least 20 years, or if the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the alleged offense, at least until the victim’s 40th birthday.
(b) A law enforcement official shall, upon written request by a sexual assault victim, furnish a free copy of the initial crime report related to the sexual assault, regardless of whether the report has been closed by the law enforcement agency, to the victim. A law enforcement agency may redact personal, identifying information in the copy furnished to the victim.
(c) A prosecutor shall, pursuant to Section 290.46, upon written request by a sexual assault victim, provide the convicted defendant’s information on a sex offender registry to the victim, if the defendant is required to register as a sex offender.
(d) The law enforcement agency shall provide sufficient copies of the card described in subdivision (a) to each provider in its jurisdiction of medical evidentiary examinations or physical examinations arising out of sexual assault.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 692, Sec. 4. (AB 1312) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018