Supporters of the Violence Against Women Act in New Jersey and elsewhere are hoping that a Senate debate can spur elected officials to reauthorize the legislation. The Act has been reauthorized twice before after first being adopted into law in 1994.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the reauthorization of the bill in February, and the Senate debate is expected to begin this week. The goal of the Violence Against Women Act is to encourage reporting and prosecution of violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.