The notice provided to sexual assault victims by hospitals has been updated.
The English version of the notice is available in PDF and Word formats on the Professional Resources page of the OJP website. Spanish, Somali, and Hmong versions areavailable too.
The notice to sexual assault victims was created in 2014 and updated in 2018 following a change in the law. Legislation that passed in 2020 has changed the kit testing landscape significantly, requiring another update of the notice. In particular, the new law requires the following:
- All unrestricted kits will be tested.
- All restricted kits will be sent to the BCA.
- The BCA must develop a statewide tracking system of sexual assault examination kits.
- The BCA must develop a statewide victim consent form for storage and testing, with in put from stakeholders.
- It is expected that the notice will need to be updated again when the statewide tracking system is instituted and further refinements to the kit testing and storage process take place.
There is space on the hospital notice for facilities to add their own name, logo, and community resources.
The hospital notice was prepared in collaboration with the Office of Justice Programs, the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, and the Minnesota Hospitals Association. Hospitals are required by Minnesota Statutes section 611A.20 to provide a notice of rights and resources to victims of sexual assault. It contains information about crime victim rights, payment obligation for the forensic sexual assault exam, civil protective order options, important supportive resources, and the new process about the testing of restricted and unrestricted kits.
Thank you!