SAPR
Consent Defined
A freely-given agreement to the conduct at issue by a competent person.
The DoD SAPR mission
prevent and respond to, the crime of sexual assault in order to enable the military readiness and reduce—with a goal to eliminate—sexual assault from the military
Servicemembers and military dependents 18 years and older who have been sexually assaulted have two reporting options
unrestricted reporting or restricted reporting
Restricted Reporting Options
1) SARC 2) SAPR 3) VA 4) healthcare personnel
Service Specific Website Assistance
1) Army - SHARP 2) Air Force, DOD, Navy, NG, CG - SAPR 3) Marine Corps - Community Services
These are examples of Sexual Assault
1) Grabbing without permission 2) Making someone give or receive oral sex 3) Touching a person while incapacitated 4) Threatening or coercing someone to have sex 5) Touching with an object without consent 6) Having sex with someone without consent
How can An EO professional may assist the commander to deter Sexual Assault
1) Monitor the organization's SAPR climate and respond with appropriate action toward any negative trends that may emerge 2) Identify and remedy environmental factors specific to the location that may facilitate the commission of sexual assaults (e.g., insufficient lighting) 3) Emphasize sexual assault prevention training for all assigned personnel, and Establish prevention training that focuses on identifying the behavior of potential offenders 4) Establish prevention training that focuses on identifying the behavior of potential offenders
Services provided by Safe Helpline
1) The first goal of Safe Helpline is to provide additional channels for adult Service members of the DoD community to seek one-on-one sexual assault assistance and crisis support securely and anonymously 2) The second goal is to increase victim reporting. Research indicates when sexual assault victims receive care, system confidence builds, which increases the likelihood of victims reporting to law enforcement
These are examples of Sexual Harassment
1) Verbal comments 2) Obscene or sexually explicit media 3) Nonverbal actions 4) Physical touching 5) Unwanted requests to perform sexual acts or sexual favors
Majority of Unrestricted Reported Offenses
1) rape 2) aggravated sexual assault/sexual assault 3) abusive sexual contact.
Changing reporting options
1. A victim can go from Restricted report to Unrestricted at any time 2. A victim cannot go from unrestricted to restricted
3rd Party Communication of assault
1. A victim's communication with another person (e.g., roommate, friend, family member) does not necessarily prevent the victim from later electing to make a Restricted Report 2. Restricted Reporting is confidential, not anonymous reporting 3. if the person to whom the victim confided the information is in the victim's officer and noncommissioned officer chain of command or DoD law enforcement, there can be no Restricted Report
Areas of Contact implying sexual assault
1. Breast 2. Inner Thighs 3. Groin 4. Buttocks 5. Anus 6. Genitalia 7. and/or Any body part with intention to arouse
Primary Prevention
DoD places this at the core of its focus in developing prevention-related tasks and initiatives that seek to reduce, with the goal to eliminate, the factors leading to, or associated with, sexual violence, thereby stopping the crime before it occurs. It involves empowered and competent individuals interacting in an environment that has been sustained to promote the best possible outcomes
Myth: Prosecution is the best means of sexual assault prevention.
Fact: Research shows many sex offenders choose to believe that their behavior is not criminal or punishable. Consequently, many offenders are not deterred by the prospect of punishment. Prevention is more likely to be achieved when prosecution and punishment are combined with interventions that interfere with an offender's ability to complete a criminal act. The DoD uses bystander intervention to give Servicemembers the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize situations at risk for sexual assault and to safely take action to prevent the crime
Myth: Most sexual assault allegations are false.
Fact: The vast majority of sexual assaults do not leave visible injury on the victim. Injuries that do occur often heal quite rapidly— especially injuries occurring to the genitalia. Psychological trauma is more likely to occur during a sexual assault. This "invisible" injury may only be detectable weeks later in the victim's behavior, as he or she attempts to cope with lasting life changes caused by the incident.
Myth: Most sexual assaults leave the victim visibly battered and bruised.
Fact: The vast majority of sexual assaults do not leave visible injury on the victim. Injuries that do occur often heal quite rapidly— especially injuries occurring to the genitalia. Psychological trauma is more likely to occur during a sexual assault. This "invisible" injury may only be detectable weeks later in the victim's behavior, as he or she attempts to cope with lasting life changes caused by the incident.
Myth: The primary victims of sexual assault in the military are women.
Fact: While rates of unwanted sexual contact are higher for women than men, recent surveys estimate that thousands of men are victimized every year; in the DoD, sexual assault is a gender neutral crime.
Investigation
Investigative resources yield timely and accurate results
SAPR Prevention Community
It takes a broad community approach encompassing all personnel at every level to end sexual assault throughout the DOD with a focus on these goals and end states: a) Prevention b) Investigation c) Accountability d) Advocacy/Victim Assistance e) Assessment
MCIO Reporting category
Offenses are categorized by the most serious offense alleged in the report
Accountability
Perpetrators are held appropriately accountable
UCMJ Sexual Assault Offenses
Rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, forcible sodomy (forced oral or anal sex), or attempts to commit these acts.
SAFE
Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner
SAPR Oversight Responsibility
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
Prevention
This is a Cultural imperatives of mutual respect and trust, professional values, and team commitment are reinforced to create an environment where sexual assault is not condoned, tolerated, or ignored
Sexual Assault Defined
This is intentional sexual contact characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.
Role of Alcohol
This may be used by the alleged offender as a weapon to reduce a victim's resistance or fully incapacitate a victim
Underreporting
This poses a serious challenge to military readiness
The Continuum of Harm
This represents the environment and potential for harm where people live, work, and spend their lives.
This type of reporting is favored by the DoD.
Unrestricted reporting
Gender reporting behaviors
Women: Of those women who indicate experiencing an incident of unwanted sexual contact, about 43% are accounted for in Unrestricted or Restricted Reports to DoD* Men: Of those men who indicate experiencing an incident of unwanted sexual contact, about 10% are accounted for in Unrestricted or Restricted Reports to DoD*
How can EOA's exert influence?
a) Keeping commanders aware of their organization's climate through ongoing assessments and assisting them in formulating action plans for resolution. b) Helping them foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and teamwork. 6) Being a change agent by dispelling sexual assault myths and misconceptions.
DOD and active bystander
a. Active bystanders take the initiative to help someone who may be targeted for a sexual assault by a predator b. Active bystanders also take the initiative to help friends who aren't thinking clearly from becoming perpetrators of a crime c. Intervention doesn't mean that you only step in to stop a crime in progress; rather, these steps are early intervention, before the crime began.
SAPR Services
a. All Servicemembers, including victims prior to enlistment or commissioning (unrestricted and restricted reporting) except for cases that fall under FAP (e.g. dependents 17/below, or when perpetrated by a family member, or domestic/intimate partner.) Note: DoD policy currently does not cover retirees b. Adult military dependents (unrestricted and restricted reporting) except for cases that fall under FAP (e.g. dependents 17/below, or when perpetrated by a family member, or domestic/intimate partner.) c. Non-military individuals (unrestricted reporting only): DoD civilians and their adult family members, and DoD contractors stationed OCONUS and eligible for treatment in the MHS d. In situations where the victim is not eligible for SAPR services, SAPR personnel can make referrals to local agencies, e.g. Rape Crisis Centers, etc.
No Consent
a. An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent. b. Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the use of force, threat of force, or placing another person in fear does not constitute consent. c. A current or previous dating or social or sexual relationship by itself, or the manner of dress of the person involved with the accused in the sexual conduct at issue, shall not constitute consent. d. A sleeping, unconscious, or incompetent person cannot consent
Unrestricted Report
a. Command and law enforcement are notified b. An investigation is initiated c. Legal proceeding usually follows if there is sufficient evidence d. A SARC shall be notified, respond or direct a SAPR VA to respond; assign a SAPR VA e. Victim is offered healthcare treatment and a SAFE
Sexual Assault effects on the individual
a. Depression b. Eating Disorders c. PTSD d. Self Harm e. Sleep Disturbance f. Substance Abuse g. Suicide
The DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) duties
a. Develops policy and programs to improve prevention efforts b. Sets training standards and assesses whether those standards have been met c. Enhances treatment and response to victims, and ensures system accountability d. Collaborates closely with services and numerous outside organizations to fully implement those policies and programs.
EOA Behavioral response Domains
a. Gender focused jokes, sexual comments and jodies, and vulgar pictures b. Seductive behavior and inappropriate advances c. Threats, blackmail, and sexual bribery
DOD/CDC Levels of Prevention
a. Primary Prevention: Approaches that take place before sexual violence has occurred to prevent initial perpetration b. Secondary Prevention: Immediate responses after sexual violence has occurred to address the early identification of victims and the short-term consequences of violence c. Tertiary Prevention: Long-term responses after sexual violence has occurred to address the lasting consequences of violence and sex offender treatment interventions.
EO referrals for victims of sexual assault
a. Sexual Assault Response Coordinator/ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate b. Military Criminal Investigative Organization as applicable
Sexual Assault Effects on the Unit
a. Unsafe conditions - A safe work environment cannot exist when men and women are at risk to sexual assault b. Inability to focus - Current readiness is degraded because service members cannot concentrate solely on the unit mission if they must focus on ensuring their personal safety. Commanders and leadership spend increasing amounts of time educating and training the force on these issues. Senior leadership is consumed with the legal and public investigations of sexual assault allegations. c. Recruiting and retentions issues - Servicemen and women will lose motivation to join or stay in organizations with an environment where sexual assault is prevelant