Source: United States Navy
The Navy released updates to the service’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response policy and adult sexual assault investigation procedures in NAVADMIN 151/22 on July 12.
The update expands the ability of victims to file restricted sexual assault reports and updates procedures for expedited transfers for Sailors filing unrestricted reports.
Effective immediately, sexual assault victims retain the right to file restricted reports even if they’ve already disclosed the assault to their commander or personnel in their chain of command.
The restricted report option is only available if the victim has not reported the assault to law enforcement, including military criminal investigative organizations (MCIO) such as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The option is also not available to those who have elected to make an unrestricted report and have signed a DD Form 2910 in the presence of a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or SAPR Victim Advocate (VA) for the same incident.
Even with this change, commanders must still immediately report sex-related offenses within their chain of command to their requisite MCIO responsible for investigating such incidents. This includes notifying MCIOs of sexual assaults regardless of whether they occurred in their chain of command.
Also, this change doesn’t eliminate the requirement for military law involvement and criminal investigative organizations to investigate all reports and allegations of adult sexual assault. However, victims retain the right to not participate in the investigation.
Commands must explain these reporting requirements to each victim and ensure they understand these duties don’t impact their ability to file restricted or unrestricted reports.
The NAVADMIN also updated procedures for Sailors who file unrestricted sexual assault reports and request an expedited transfer. The new rules now give that member’s commander five days to review, approve or disapprove these requests, up from the previously required three days.
Complete details and contact points are available in the NAVADMIN.
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