General explains new DOD sex-assault policy

  • Published
  • By Terri Lukach
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The new guidelines for reporting incidents of sexual assault within the military create, for the first time, a Defense Department-wide standard that will provide victims with the support they need after incidents occur and help commanders get to root causes of the problems, the head of the Pentagon joint task force for sexual-assault prevention and response said here March 22.

Before the policy, announced March 18, there were “pockets of excellence” but no overarching policy for contending with sexual abuse," Brig. Gen. K.C. McClain said. The new policy “provides a framework for how the department will respond,” she said.

The new guidelines are expected to take effect in mid-June.

“Sexual abuse crimes create a sense of (powerlessness) in the victim (and) a loss of control, and the official investigative process can be overwhelming,” General McClain said.

It is primarily this sense of being overwhelmed and powerless that causes victims to forgo reporting sexual-abuse incidents, the general said.

The new policy allows the victim to report incidents and receive medical treatment, care and counseling, while at the same time giving the victim more time and control over the release and management of personal information. In short, it allows the victim “to come forward without initiating the reporting process,” General McClain said.

She said the new policy will not limit commanders from addressing problems of abuse within their commands.

“Now commanders will have more information about the scope and nature of the problem within their organizations” the general said. “It will allow them to adjust their prevention efforts and judge the effectiveness of their training program.”

General McClain said it also creates a universal policy across all services, which is particularly important in this new era of joint operations.

“It is critical that the same policy be applied across the Department of Defense,” she said. “Otherwise, we could have different forms of confidentiality, or even different access to services, varying by location. That would not only be confusing, but also inequitable.”

The message of the new policy, General McClain said, is that while complete reporting and accountability is preferable, the first priority is to ensure that victims are protected, treated with dignity and respect, and receive the medical treatment, care and support they deserve.

Confidentiality does two things, she said: It gets victims the care and support they need, and it gives commanders information they don’t currently have that allows them to get at the root cause of sexual abuse.

“Everyone in the Department of Defense has a role in prevention and response, regardless of rank, position, duty title or assignment,” the general said. “That role is to understand what behavior constitutes sexual assault, and to send a message to co-workers and friends that those behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”