SB 224

Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin’s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process.

This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights:

1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines.

2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit.

3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person.

4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit.

5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened.