A new pilot project launched today provides victims of sexual assault another way to give a formal report without going to police.

The Journey Project has officially launched its pilot project on third-party reporting when it comes to victims of sexual assault.

Third-party reporting is an alternative way to provide a formal report, without going directly to police or starting a criminal investigation.

The report is taken and kept by a community organization that is separate from the police. They then provide a redacted copy of the report to the police.

Now victims won’t have to identify themselves or start a formal investigation until they are ready to do so. @VOCMNEWS

— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) September 17, 2019

Anyone over the age of 18 who has experienced a sexual assault can make a third-party report. The report is taken and kept by a community organization that is separate from the police, to whom they then provide a redacted copy of the report.

As such, victims won’t have to identify themselves or start a formal investigation until they are ready to do so. Police will not move forward with an investigation unless the survivor gives their permission.

At any time, the survivor can contact the RNC or the Journey Project to start the investigation. They would then have to provide a new statement to police.

At this point, the Journey Project—based in the offices of the Public Legal Information Association of NL—and the NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre are the only two community organization taking third-party reports, with the hope of eventually expanding the program.