New Jersey State Bar Association President Timothy F. McGoughran and past chair of the Family Law Section Derek M. Freed joined New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, sponsors and stakeholders for a bill signing last week. The new law renames the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act to the Victim’s Assistance and Survivor Protection Act (VASPA) and expands access to protective orders for crimes of stalking and cyber harassment when the alleged offender is a stranger to the victim and has not actually assaulted the victim.
“I am proud of the work of the NJSBA in working with the sponsors and stakeholders to make this bill a reality,” said McGoughran. “This law enhances protections that were not available under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act or the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act to provide additional tools for police involvement when strangers attempt unwanted contact with victims.”
The impetus for the bill came from concerned mother, Michele Albano, whose daughter was the victim of stalking and constant text messaging from a person with whom she had no prior relationship. Albano testified before the Legislature, reading off a list of offensive, unwelcome text messages to her daughter and recounted their attempts to stop these actions to no avail.
“We – her parents, her brothers and sisters, and her – lived in constant fear that he would show up at her door, as he had threatened,” said Albano in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. “He lived only two blocks away, and she was provided no protection.”
VASPA was signed into law on July 24 and becomes effective in six months.
This is a status report provided by the New Jersey State Bar Association on recently passed and pending legislation, regulations, gubernatorial nominations and/or appointments of interest to lawyers, as well as the involvement of the NJSBA as amicus in appellate court matters. To learn more, visit njsba.com.