Bill Text: NJ S1152 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-13 - Substituted by A2899 [S1152 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1152-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 1152

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 23, 2012

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LORETTA WEINBERG

District 37 (Bergen)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Directs the Division on Women to conduct an audit of the coordination of community responses to domestic violence.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the assessment of the State of New Jersey's community response to domestic violence and supplementing P.L.2005, c.204 (C.52:27D-43.36).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a. The Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Community Affairs shall audit the effectiveness of State, county and local response to domestic violence by sponsoring, at the county and local level, community safety and accountability audits throughout the state.

     b.    The audit shall include a systematic analysis of intra-agency and interagency policies and procedures used by:

     (1)   law enforcement agencies and the court system when investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic violence-related fatalities and near fatalities, as appropriate; and

     (2)   State and local agencies and organizations when providing services to victims of domestic violence.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill directs the Division on Women to audit the effectiveness of State, county and local response to domestic violence by sponsoring, at the county and local level, community safety and accountability audits throughout the state.

     In June 2006, the New Jersey Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board released a report containing recommendations that were based on findings from a review of domestic violence-related homicide suicide cases.

     The Board found from case reviews that professionals who came in contact with victims failed to demonstrate knowledge about domestic violence that is essential to providing appropriate care, information and referrals to these victims.  Moreover, the board found that there was no mechanism in place for these agents to communicate with each other to evaluate the totality of the response provided to the people involved, with the result that no one communicated the danger that existed.

     This bill incorporates Recommendation #4 contained in the report.