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TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg that would exempt rape and domestic victim counselors from having to testify in criminal cases was unanimously approved today by the Senate.

” Studies have shown that having a trusting victim-counselor relationship is essential for assault survivors during the healing process,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “This legislation would allow victims to fully confide in their counselors at all times and know that any information given will not have to be re-counted in a court of law.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg that would exempt rape and domestic victim counselors from having to testify in criminal cases was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“The time period immediately following an attack, once a victim decides to step up and report the assault is critical to the healing process. Many victims choose to work through their pain in secret for fear of ridicule, especially in public, high profile cases, but what they don’t realize is that silence allows the violent behavior to continue,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary panel. “This legislation would allow victims to fully confide in their counselors in the presence of police officers and know that information given to counselors in confidentiality will, by law, remain confidential.”