Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR)

SAPR Office

SAPR Office Role

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Office is responsible for:

Oversight of the Department of Defense sexual assault policy
Works hand-in-hand with the services and the civilian community to develop and implement innovative prevention and response programs

Reference

SAPR Reference

AFI 90-6006, *Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program*.

Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)

SARC = Single Point of Contact

The installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) is the single point of contact at an installation or within a geographic area reporting to the installation commander.

SARC Functions

The SARC:

Oversees sexual assault awareness, prevention, and response training
Coordinates medical treatment, including emergency care for sexual assault victims
Tracks the services provided to a victim of sexual assault from the initial report through final disposition and resolution

Deployment Coverage

SARC Deployment Coverage

The USAF will identify trained military SARCs, as well as trained civilian SARCs or SAPR Victim Advocates (SAPR VA), for rotational support of global contingency operations and deployments.

Air Expeditionary Wing Standard

AEW SARC Coverage

Normally, each air expeditionary wing will warrant at least one SARC and one SAPR VA position.

Smaller Deployment Standard

Smaller Deployment Coverage

For deployments smaller than an air expeditionary force, deployed commanders must provide a sexual assault response capability consistent with USAF requirements.

Victims' Counsel (VC)

VC = Military Attorney

The Victims' Counsel (VC) is a military attorney authorized to provide independent legal representation to eligible victims of:

Sexual assault
Sexual misconduct
Stalking
Other similar crimes

VC Primary Responsibility

A VC's primary responsibility is to their client.

VC's 3 Main Roles

VC 3 Roles

The VC has 3 main roles:

Advocate — provide victims zealous advocacy by protecting their rights
Advise — provide legal advice by developing victims' understanding of the often complex investigatory and military justice system
Empower — by removing barriers to their full participation in the military justice process

Sexual Assault Defined

Sexual Assault = Articles 120/120b/80 UCMJ

Sexual assault is criminal conduct that violates the standards the United States of America expects of the men and women serving in the USAF and is inconsistent with our core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.

Inherent Respect

Inherent in these core values is respect:

Self-respect
Mutual respect
Respect for the USAF as an institution

Sexual Assault Definition

Sexual assault is an intentional sexual contact, characterized by the use of:

Force
Threats
Intimidation
Abuse of authority
OR when the victim does not or cannot consent

UCMJ Articles

SA UCMJ Articles

The term sexual assault encompasses a range of sexual offenses specifically prohibited by Articles 120, 120b, and 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to include:

Rape
Sexual assault
Aggravated sexual contact
Abusive sexual contact
Forcible sodomy
Attempts to commit any of these offenses

Consent

Consent Definition

Consent is defined as words or overt acts indicating a freely given agreement to the sexual conduct by a competent person.

Lack of Consent

An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent.

Resistance and Submission

Resistance/Submission

Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from:

The accused's use of force
Threat of force
Placing another person in fear

…does NOT constitute consent.

Relationship and Dress

Relationship/Dress Not Consent

A current or previous relationship, or the manner of dress of the person involved with the accused in the sexual conduct at issue, shall NOT constitute consent.

Incapacity

No Consent When Incapacitated

There is NO consent where the person is sleeping or incapacitated, such as due to:

Age
Alcohol or drugs
Mental incapacity

Response to Allegation

Mandatory Reporting (Subordinate)

Any military member or civilian employee (other than those authorized to receive confidential communications or otherwise exempted by law, regulation, or policy) who receives a report of a sexual assault incident about a subordinate in the individual's supervisory chain, will report the matter to:

The commander
The SARC
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations

Encouraged Reporting (Non-Subordinate)

Military members or civilian employees who become aware of a sexual assault incident NOT involving a subordinate in the supervisory chain are strongly encouraged, but NOT required, to:

Report the incident to the SARC, OR
Encourage the victim to do so