Revises provisions relating to certain victims of crime. (BDR 16-984)
Summary
Assembly Bill 193 requires law enforcement agencies in Nevada to provide, free of charge, a complete and unaltered copy of all reports concerning a domestic violence incident when a victim submits a written request. The report must be furnished within one month of the request, even if the case has not been closed. The bill also allows agencies to redact personal identifying information when appropriate.
The measure mirrors an existing Nevada law that already gives sexual assault survivors the right to obtain free copies of law enforcement reports, and extends a similar access right to victims of domestic violence. It defines “law enforcement agency,” “personal identifying information,” and “victim of domestic violence” by reference to existing state statutes, tying the new requirement into current victim-protection and records-disclosure law.
Impact
AB193 amends Chapter 217 of the Nevada Revised Statutes by adding a new section that creates a statutory right for domestic violence victims to obtain police reports related to their case. The bill affects state and local law enforcement agencies by imposing a mandatory response timeline and a no-cost disclosure obligation, while preserving agency discretion to redact sensitive identifying information. It primarily impacts victims of domestic violence, who gain a clearer legal avenue to access records that may be useful for safety planning, legal proceedings, or documentation.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong bipartisan support for the bill. It passed the Assembly unanimously, 39-0, and the Senate by a wide margin, 20-1. That voting pattern suggests broad agreement that domestic violence victims should have access to their own police reports and that the bill was viewed as a victim-centered, low-conflict policy change.
Contention
No committee testimony or floor debate was provided, and the near-unanimous votes indicate little visible opposition. Any potential point of contention would likely have centered on the balance between victim access and privacy concerns, particularly whether law enforcement should be required to release reports before a case is closed and how much personal information may be redacted. The bill addresses that concern by expressly allowing redaction of personal identifying information.