New laws help sexual assault victims

Tonight.

One of minnesota's new laws taking effect this year will allow victims of sexual assault more time to consider whether to pursue criminal charges against their assaulter.

Kimt new three's jessica bringe joins us live from rochester's government center with how this move will benefit victims. jessica.

George ?

"* the law makes it so law enforcement agencies including the rochester police department or hospitals submit sexual assault kits to the bureau of criminal apprehension within 60?

"*days.

From there the kits will be stored by the bca for at least 30 months..

Previously kits that weren't sent to the b?

"**- a were stored locally and then destroyed by law enforcement within 3?

"*6 months.

Olmsted county victim services says this will give victims who may be experiencing trauma from the assault more time to decide if they want to move forward with the case and possibly press criminal charges.

Program manager laura sutherland says it's hard to understate how big of a move this actually is for victims. <while mayo has always worked closely with victims and our agency and we obviously really try to support victims throughout a sexual assault in terms of reporting afterwards we know there are some victims who want that ability on their own to see what the status of their kit is and if they can say to law enforcement, hey, yeah ?

"* i really do want to go forward now."

R?

"*p?

"*d has sending all kits that received victim's consent to bca since 2019..

But now all sexual assault kits will be included.

Live in rochester, jb kimt news 3.

Thank you jessica.

The new law will also enter the dna evidence into a national index.