The New Jersey Senate cleared legislation to make it easier for survivors of domestic violence to access police records. "Police records are a powerful tool that can help survivors corroborate testimony and obtain restraining orders," said New Jersey State Senator Anthony M. Bucco, who helped sponsor the bill. The key components of the legislation include:

• Requiring copies of investigatory law enforcement records, including photographs, footage from body- or dash-cam, 9-1-1 transcripts or recordings, and contents of their police report, to be made available upon request to a domestic violence victim or their legal representative;
• Mandating law enforcement agencies to provide copies of requested records within 10 days of the victim's request; and
• Releasing or unsealing expunged records at the request of an individual involved in a complaint related to a domestic violence restraining order, weapons forfeiture, or temporary or final extreme risk protective order.

"By helping survivors of domestic violence access their police recorders, we are supporting their right to better protect themselves from their abuser," Sen. Bucco said. "The passage of this potentially life-saving legislation increases the likelihood that perpetrators of these repulsive actions will be held accountable."

If you are a victim of domestic violence in need of a restraining or protective order, you need the Lento Law Firm's Family Law Team on your side. Contact us today at 888-535-3686 or through our online form.

Restraining Orders in New Jersey

When someone experiences an incident of domestic violence, the most typical course of action for the victim is to seek a restraining order against the person threatening or harming them. A restraining order is a court order that prevents one person from having contact with another. There are three types of restraining orders in New Jersey:

• Temporary restraining order (TRO): This type of restraining order can be issued immediately "ex parte," which means that only the victim is present. The judge decides to issue a TRO based on the victim's information. If the judge decides that a TRO is necessary to protect the victim's life, a TRO will go into effect until a court hearing can be scheduled for the judge to talk to both parties.
• Final restraining order (FRO): A judge will issue this type of restraining order after both sides have had a chance to tell their stories and present evidence and witnesses. A FRO is permanent unless one party petitions the court to end or modify the FRO.
• Sexual assault restraining order: The New Jersey Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act (SASPA) allows courts to issue a civil protective order to protect victims of sexual violence against the person who assaulted them.

Protect Yourself from Domestic Violence. Contact the Family Law Team at the Lento Law Firm Today.

New Jersey lawmakers have made it easier for victims of domestic violence to obtain police records to help corroborate testimony and obtain restraining orders to protect themselves and their families. If you are a victim of domestic violence in need of a restraining order to protect you or your family, contact the Lento Law Firm's Family Law Team at 888-535-3686 or through our online form.