Sexual assault is a criminal offense that has no place in the Army. It degrades mission readiness by devastating the Army's ability to work effectively as a team. Every soldier who is aware of a sexual assault, should immediately (within 24 hours) report incidents of sexual assault. It is incompatible with the Army Values and is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and other federal and local civilian laws.

The definition of a sexual assault is any intentional sexual contact, characterized by the use of force, physical threat, or the abuse of authority, or when the victim cannot or does not consent.

The purpose of the Army's new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program is to eliminate incidents of sexual assault though a comprehensive policy that centers on: 1) prevention and awareness, 2) immediate response, 3) Long term support, and 4) Evaluation.

Resources Available to Victims of Sexual Assault

Victims do not need to recover from sexual assault alone. Sexual assault is a crime punishable by both military and civilian authorities. All victims of sexual assault have the right to receive assistance. The Army's new restricted reporting policy gives active duty personnel the ability to receive a medical/forensic exam, counseling, and victim advocacy services - without triggering an investigation by law enforcement, by reporting to the SARC/health care provider/Chaplain.

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Sexual Assault Reporting Options

Restricted Reporting
Allows a sexual assault victim to confidentially disclose the details of his/her assault to specifically identified individuals and receive medical care, victim advocacy and counseling, without triggering the official investigative process. Restricted reporting is intended to give victims additional time and increased control over the release and management of their personal information, and to empower them to seek relevant information and support to make more informed decisions about participating in the criminal investigation. A victim who receives appropriate care and treatment, and is provided an opportunity to make an informed decision about a criminal investigation is more likely to develop increased trust that his/her needs are of primary concern to the command and may eventually decide to pursue an investigation. Soldiers who are sexually assaulted and desire restricted reporting should report the assault to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or a healthcare provider, or a Chaplain.

Unrestricted Reporting
A Soldier who is sexually assaulted and desires medical treatment, counseling and an official investigation of his/her allegation should use current reporting channels, e.g. chain of command, law enforcement or report the incident to the SARC. Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately assign a Victim Advocate,. Additionally, at the victim's discretion or request, the healthcare provider shall conduct a forensic examination, which may include the collection of evidence

Victim Advocacy Program | What should I do ... | General Facts | Crime Victims Rights

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