DOD implements new changes to sexual assault response

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Department of Defense recently implemented several changes to the sexual assault response program across all branches of the armed forces to help aid sexual assault victims reporting a crime or seeking assistance.

"In the past, restricted reporting was for active duty military members only," said Kimberly Dickman, 100th Air Refueling Wing sexual assault response coordinator. "Now anyone who is an adult dependent of an active duty member can file a restricted report."

A restricted report allows a sexual assault victim to report the assault to a SARC, victim advocate, healthcare provider or a chaplain to receive medical treatment or counseling without starting a legal investigation. An unrestricted report once filed, automatically starts an official investigation of the crime and the assault can report to anyone in the victim's chain of command, law enforcement, SARC, healthcare provider or chaplain.

Retirees and civilian contractors are not allowed to file a restricted report but they can use the services offered through the 100th ARW sexual assault response program office, said Dickman.

When a victim files a restricted report, the evidence is collected and boxed in a rape kit and the kit is then assigned a code number. In the past, the Air Force Office of Special Investigation held on to the box for one year in case the victim decided to process the kit.

"The new change dictates OSI will keep the kit for five years," said Dickman. "This gives victims more time to decide if they want their rape kit processed."

Another change to the program is an option for the victim to request an expedited duty station transfer if the victim filed an unrestricted report.

"Victims have always had the right to ask for a transfer, and that is at the discretion of the command to approve or disapprove the transfer," said Dickman. "The new policy states the command has to respond within 72 hours."

Dickman explained there is some confusion with the new transfer request option.

"If a request is made, it doesn't mean the victim will leave in 72 hours, it means the command has to either approve or disapprove the request within 72 hours," she said.

If a transfer is disapproved, the command can work with the SAPR office and look into placing the victim in another environment where the victim feels safe, said Dickman.

An additional change was also made to record keeping.

"A new rule for restricted cases is we'll keep files for 50 years and with unrestricted cases, we'll keep the files indefinitely," said Dickman.

The DOD also announced the launch of a database that went live this month.

Dickman said throughout the DOD, all of the different services have their own collection methods of data from all open cases, demographics of people assaulted; now it will all be collected in the same way now and entered into the database.

"The SARC will use the database for annual reports about who is being assaulted, how many reports are made and who is assaulted - is it the younger population, is it certain ranks, is it first term service members," she said.

Dickman said the SARC will use the database for unrestricted cases and if the victim moves to a new duty station, then the case details will automatically move to the next SARC.

"The next SARC can track what's happened with the case," she added.

The SAPR office is currently educating the 100th ARW leadership on the new changes to the sexual assault program.

For more information about the changes, contact the 100th ARW SAPR office at DSN 238-2009.