Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement

Police can't ask victims to waive rights

Beginning October 1, 2026, police cannot ask sexual assault victims to sign or say they waive rights. Agencies cannot use forms or verbal requests to narrow an investigation, stop prosecution, or limit a victim’s right to sue. If a victim asks to narrow or pause a case, police must write it down and follow up using practices from the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. Each police agency must adopt a written policy to enforce these rules and send it to the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee. If an agency breaks these rules, an affected victim can go to court to stop it or get a clear ruling.