§20109 Sexual Assault Survivors’ Notification Grants

Summary

The Attorney General may give grants to states so they can make and share written notices that tell sexual assault survivors about their rights and policies. Grant recipients must try to ensure that medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, state and local law enforcement, and other state agencies give survivors who say they are survivors and agree to get the information a written notice covering seven things: (1) no fees or barriers to getting a sexual assault evidence kit (rape kit); (2) the right to a medical forensic exam even if they do not report to police; (3) the availability of an advocate; (4) protective orders and how they are enforced; (5) how kits are stored, kept, or destroyed; (6) how to ask for preservation of kits or evidence; and (7) victim compensation and restitution. Recipients must also post the notice on the state attorney general’s website. The Attorney General can give technical help, and any system made under the grant may be linked to an existing case-management system if it meets these rules.