New DOD sexual-assault policy affords victims privacy

  • Published
  • By Samantha L. Quigley
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  New guidelines for confidential, restricted reporting of sexual assaults in the Defense Department were announced March 18 in a Pentagon briefing.

“The policy allows victims -- and here’s the big change -- to report a sexual assault to specified individuals without necessarily initiating an investigative process,” said Dr. David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “(It) will still give them access to medical care, counseling and victim advocacy.”

The specified people include sexual-assault response coordinators, certain health-care providers, victim advocates and chaplains. Chaplains, Dr. Chu said, already possess that privilege under the current system.

Dr. Chu said department officials believe this policy change will encourage more victims of sexual assault to come forward and seek help. More accurate reporting will provide commanders a more accurate view of what is happening within their commands, as well, he said.

“Although the department would prefer complete reporting of sexual assaults to activate both victim services and accountability actions, we believe our first priority needs to be (for) our victims to be protected, to have them treated with dignity and respect and to receive the medical treatment, care and counseling that they deserve,” Dr. Chu said.

This option, he said, provides the victim with more time and control over the release and management of personal information. He said the victim may not be ready to initiate an investigation immediately after an assault, but he hopes that the design of the policy will empower the victim to seek information and support to make an informed decision about participating in a criminal investigation.

The policy also aims to balance the needs of the victim with the needs of commanders, Dr. Chu said. Within 24 hours of sexual assault where the victim chooses to seek care but not pursue an investigation, commanders will be informed of the incident. However, commanders will not get personal identifying information about the victim.

“This new policy, we are convinced, will provide commanders with a clearer picture of sexual violence within their organization because they will be informed of offenses that had previously gone unreported,” Dr. Chu said.

He also said that the magnitude of the change requires “extensive, in-depth training” for all department people. This is especially true for commanders, senior enlisted advisers, investigators, health-care providers and others involved in sexual-assault response.

The new sexual-assault prevention policy was originally announced in January. The confidential and restricted reporting portion is scheduled to take effect in mid-June, Dr. Chu said. The message department officials hope comes across loud and clear is that sexual assault is a crime that will not be tolerated, he said.

“We hope that our proactive stance will enable the department to create a safer and more cohesive military community,” Dr. Chu said.