NCJ Number
242099
Date Published
May 2013
Length
729 pages
Annotation
This Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military presents statistics and analysis of reports of sexual assault during FY 2012 submitted by the Military Departments to the Committees on Armed Services, discusses policy and program improvements to sexual assault cases, and outlines future plans to improve support to victims of sexual assault.
Abstract
In addition, this year's report assesses the Department of Defense's (DOD's) progress in the areas of prevention, reporting, response, and improved knowledge of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program. The 3,374 reported sexual assaults for FY 2012 involved 2,949 Service member victims. Of the 3,374 reports of sexual assault, 2,558 were "Unrestricted Reports." The Military Services initially received 981 "Restricted Reports." At the request of victims, 165 reports were converted from "Restricted" and "Unrestricted," leaving 816 reports remaining "Restricted" in FY 2012. In April 2012, the Secretary of Defense directed that effective June 28, 2012, in certain sexual assault cases, the initial disposition authority for disciplinary actions taken under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) be elevated to commanders in the O-6 grade (colonel or Navy captain) or higher who have at least special court-martial convening authority, so as to ensure these cases are handled by seasoned, more senior commanders with advice of legal counsel. The goal of this priority is to improve the quality of the DOD's response to sexual assault victims through programs, policies, and activities that advance victim care and improve victims' experience with the criminal investigative and military justice processes. In FY 2012, the DOD's confidential 24/7 hotline resource for sexual assault victims received just over 49,000 visitors to its Web site; and just over 4,600 individuals received specialized care through its online chat, telephone help-line, and testing referral services. 16 figures, 31 exhibits, 3 tables, 5 enclosures, and appended supplementary data