78B-7-509.  Duties of law enforcement officers — Notice to victims.

(1)  A law enforcement officer who responds to an allegation of sexual violence shall use all reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further sexual violence, including:

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Terms Used In Utah Code 78B-7-509

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Court clerk: means a district court clerk. See Utah Code 78B-7-102
  • Protective order: means :
(a) a sexual violence protective order; or
(b) an ex parte sexual violence protective order. See Utah Code 78B-7-502
  • Sexual violence: means the commission or the attempt to commit:
    (a) any sexual offense described in 4, or 2;
    (b) human trafficking for sexual exploitation under Section 76-5-308. See Utah Code 78B-7-502
    (a)  taking action that, in the officer’s discretion, is reasonably necessary to provide for the safety of the victim and any family or household member;

    (b)  making arrangements for the victim and any child to obtain emergency housing or shelter;

    (c)  arranging, facilitating, or providing for the victim and any child to obtain medical treatment; and

    (d)  arranging, facilitating, or providing the victim with immediate and adequate notice of the rights of the victim and of the remedies and services available to victims of sexual violence, in accordance with Subsection (2).
  • (2) 

    (a)  A law enforcement officer shall give written notice to the victim in simple language, describing the rights and remedies available under this part.

    (b)  The written notice shall also include:

    (i)  a statement that the forms needed in order to obtain a protective order are available from the court clerk‘s office in the judicial district where the victim resides or is temporarily domiciled; and

    (ii)  a list of shelters, services, and resources available in the appropriate community, together with telephone numbers, to assist the victim in accessing any needed assistance.

    Enacted by Chapter 365, 2019 General Session