Support for Victims

The Novato Police Department is committed to minimizing the trauma experienced by sexual assault victims, aggressively investigating sexual assaults, quickly pursuing the arrest and conviction of suspects, and protecting the safety of the victims and community.

Victims have the right to have a sexual assault counselor and at least one other support person of the victim’s choosing present at any initial medical evidentiary examination, physical examination, or investigative interview.

Victims may contact a sexual assault counselor, 24 hours a day, through their website Community Violence Solutions (CVS) or by phone at (800) 670-7273. 

The investigating officer will contact CVS and request assistance from a sexual assault counselor. The CVS sexual assault counselor’s role is to advocate for the victim, provide crisis intervention services, information to the victim and family, and provide appropriate referrals.

About Medical/Physical Examinations

Sexual assault victims are not required to participate in the criminal justice system or to receive a medical evidentiary or physical examination in order to retain their rights under law. Medical and physical examinations take place at a designated hospital by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

In sexual assaults, contact between the suspect and the victim, or his/her environment, or both may leave evidence which is transferred from the suspect to the victim, to the scene, and vice versa. Biological evidence is sometimes the only way to prove the occurrence of sexual contact and to identify the suspect. Biological evidence can be washed away or be unable to be collected over a short amount of time. If the sexual assault is within 96 hours of the report and biological evidence may be present, the investigating officer will make a decision of whether or not to request a forensic medical examination. Other physical examinations may be requested to establish and document chronic sexual abuse or past injuries.

Sexual assault forensic evidence will submitted to a laboratory to be tested within the time periods prescribed by Penal Code Section 803.

Novato Police Department Property and Evidence Section will retain the sexual assault forensic evidence for at least 20 years, or if the victim was under 18 years old at the time of the alleged offense, at least until the victim’s 40th birthday.

Victim Assistance and Compensation

• County of Marin Victim-Witness Assistance Program: Marin County Victim Advocates can assist with understanding the criminal justice process and victim’s rights.
  • 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130 San Rafael, CA 94903 Contact: (415) 473-5080

• The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) can help pay bills and expenses that result from violent crime. Victims of crime who have been injured or have been threatened with injury may be eligible for help.
  • CalVCB Helpline: 1-800-777-9229 (Phone) | 1-866-902-8669 (Fax)

Obtaining a Temporary Protective Order

Sexual assault victims may apply to the Marin County Superior Court for a Temporary Protective Order. Depending on the victim’s circumstances, one of the following protective orders may apply:

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order 
• Civil Harassment Order 

Information about these orders can be found at the above listed web page for the Superior Court of Marin County.

• Assistance is also available at Legal Self Help Services: Marin Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room C-27, San Rafael, (415) 444-7130.

Obtaining Information about the Investigation, Evidence, and Prosecution

Victims may contact the Novato Police Investigation Section supervisor at (415)- 897-4361 to request the results of the analysis of the victim’s sexual assault forensic evidence.

Victims may contact the Novato Police Records Section, Monday-Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, 909 Machin Av, Novato, (415)897- 4361), to make a written request for a free copy of the initial crime report related to the sexual assault, regardless of whether the report has been closed.

A law enforcement agency may redact personal, identifying information in the copy furnished to the victim.

Victims may make a written request to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 145, San Rafael, Phone: (415) 473-6450, to obtain the convicted defendant’s information on a sex offender registry if the defendant is required to register as a sex offender.