200.377 - Victims of certain sexual offenses: Legislative findings and declarations. - Nevada Statutes

200.377  Victims of certain sexual offenses: Legislative findings and declarations.  The Legislature finds and declares that:

      1.  This State has a compelling interest in assuring that the victim of a sexual offense or an offense involving a pupil:

      (a) Reports the sexual offense or offense involving a pupil to the appropriate authorities;

      (b) Cooperates in the investigation and prosecution of the sexual offense or offense involving a pupil; and

      (c) Testifies at the criminal trial of the person charged with committing the sexual offense or offense involving a pupil.

      2.  The fear of public identification and invasion of privacy are fundamental concerns for the victims of sexual offenses or offenses involving a pupil. If these concerns are not addressed and the victims are left unprotected, the victims may refrain from reporting and prosecuting sexual offenses or offenses involving a pupil.

      3.  A victim of a sexual offense or an offense involving a pupil may be harassed, intimidated and psychologically harmed by a public report that identifies the victim. A sexual offense or an offense involving a pupil is, in many ways, a unique, distinctive and intrusive personal trauma. The consequences of identification are often additional psychological trauma and the public disclosure of private personal experiences.

      4.  Recent public criminal trials have focused attention on these issues and have dramatized the need for basic protections for the victims of sexual offenses or offenses involving a pupil.

      5.  The public has no overriding need to know the individual identity of the victim of a sexual offense or an offense involving a pupil.

      6.  The purpose of NRS 200.3771 to 200.3774, inclusive, is to protect the victims of sexual offenses and offenses involving a pupil from harassment, intimidation, psychological trauma and the unwarranted invasion of their privacy by prohibiting the disclosure of their identities to the public.

      (Added to NRS by 1993, 2475; A 2009, 1296)