NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
No. 215-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar 16, 2006 Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry(703)428-0711
DoD Release Sexual Assault Report for 2005
The Department of Defense announced today the release of the
second annual report on the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR)
program. The report provides data on alleged sexual assaults reported to
military officials during calendar year (CY) 2005 in which members of the
armed forces are victims or offenders.
The data indicate that the department has made great progress in
establishing a robust and effective sexual assault prevention program. All of
the military services implemented aggressive education and training programs
designed to build a climate of confidence. Fundamental changes to reporting
procedures were also adopted across the department. This integrated program
resulted in 2,374 reported allegations of sexual assault involving a service
member as either a victim or perpetrator.
Previous DoD studies and commissions found that some victims chose
to forego support services rather than participate in the investigative
process. To address this barrier, the department instituted two methods of
reporting: restricted and unrestricted. Unrestricted reporting gives victims
support services and initiates the criminal investigation process. There were
2,047 unrestricted reports in CY 2005. Restricted reporting allows members to
access care without automatically starting the investigative process.
Implemented in June 2005, there were 435 restricted reports.
The new restricted reporting option accounted for 65 percent of
the 674-report increase over CY 2004. In addition to removing barriers, DoD
designed this option to provide the time, care and empowerment necessary for
some victims to request a criminal investigation of their assault. In 2005,
108 (or 25 percent) of the victims who chose restricted reporting subsequently
changed to unrestricted reporting.
At the close of the reporting period on Dec. 31, 2005, criminal
investigations had been completed on 1,386 cases. This resulted in 163
unidentified alleged offenders and 44 alleged offenders where either civilian
or foreign authorities had jurisdiction. Another 641 alleged offenders had
cases that were either unfounded, unsubstantiated or there was insufficient
evidence to prosecute. When the reporting period closed, 352 offenders were
awaiting final action and another 274 had punitive action completed.
The 2006 report will detail the status of the 661 investigations
that were pending completion and the action taken on the 352 offenders
awaiting final action.
This second annual report demonstrates the department’s commitment
to eliminating sexual assault from its ranks by removing barriers, creating a
climate of confidence in reporting and ensuring care is accessible for all
victims.
Recognizing that this will be a long term effort, the Joint Task
Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response has transitioned to a
permanent office under the direction of the Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness. The department will continue to refine the SAPR
program and ensure its vigorous implementation throughout the armed forces.
To view the executive summary of the department’s report to Congress, click
here
[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2006/d20060316SexualAssaultReport.pdf] .