Alabama Act No. 2021-481 requires the Alabama Attorney General’s Office to provide a survivor notification document for law enforcement personnel and medical providers to aid in the initial contact with a sexual assault victim.
It is the hope of the Office of the Attorney General that this document provides law enforcement and medical providers with a valuable tool for providing the highest level of care to victims of sexual assault.
Specifically, the Act states:
“The Attorney General shall develop a survivor notification document to be distributed by a law enforcement officer or a medical provider upon initial contact with a survivor of sexual assault. The notification document shall be made available on the Attorney General’s public website. The document shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:
- A clear statement that the survivor has the right not to be prevented from, nor charged for, receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination.
- A clear statement that the survivor has a right to have a sexual assault medical forensic examination, regardless of whether the survivor reports to or cooperates with law enforcement.
- The availability and contact information of a sexual assault advocate.
- The availability of protective orders, policies related to their enforcement, and the process to obtain protection orders.
- Policies regarding the storage, preservation, and disposal of sexual assault evidence collection kits.
- The process, if any, to request the preservation of sexual assault evidence collection kits.
- Instructions for requesting the test results upon the forensic or probative evidence of the kits from the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Information about state and federal compensation funds available for medical or other costs associated with the case and the availability of victim compensation and restitution.”