ABOUT SAPRO

Mission

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office will serve as the single point of accountability and oversight for sexual assault policy, provide guidance to the DoD components, and facilitate the resolution of issues common to all military services and joint commands.

The objectives of DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response policy are to specifically enhance and improve:

• Prevention through training and education programs
• Treatment and support of victims
• System Accountability

History

In February of 2004, the former Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld directed Dr. David S. C. Chu, the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to review the way DoD handles the treatment and care for victims of sexual assault in the Military Services (Memorandum).

The Department quickly assembled the Care for Victims of Sexual Assault Task Force, led by Ms. Ellen Embrey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health, Protection, and Readiness, and charged the task force to report back in 90 days with recommendations (Task Force Report for Care of Victims of SA). Task Force members devoted a tremendous amount of effort into the review, and the Task Force released a series of recommendations in April 2004.

One of the recommendations emphasized the need to establish a single point of accountability for sexual assault policy within the Department. This led to the establishment of the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, and the naming of Brigadier General K.C. McClain as its Commander in October.

The Task Force focused it’s initial efforts on developing a new DoD-wide sexual assault policy that incorporated recommendations set forth in the Task Force Report on Care for Victims of Sexual Assault as well as in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (PL108-375). This act directed the Department to have a sexual assault policy in place by January 1, 2005.

In January 2005, DoD presented to Congress a comprehensive policy on prevention and response to sexual assaults. The policy provides a foundation for the Department to improve prevention of sexual assault, significantly enhance support to victims, and increase reporting and accountability.

The Task Force and the Military Services collaborated closely to ensure the rapid and effective implementation of this policy. In 2005, the Task Force provided instruction to more than 1,200 sexual assault response coordinators (SARCs), chaplains, lawyers, and law enforcement to create a cadre of trained first responders. In addition, the Military Services trained more than 1,000,000 service members and established sexual assault program offices at all major installations.

The overarching elements of sexual assault prevention and response policy became permanent with the approval of DoD Directive 6495.01, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Policy, in October 2005. The Task Force began transitioning into a permanent office that same month.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) now serves as the Department’s single point of authority for sexual assault policy and provides oversight to ensure that each of the Service’s programs complies with DoD policy. It quickly obtained approval of DoD Instruction 6495.02, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures , making permanent all elements of the Department’s sexual assault policy. In addition, it conducted a training conference for all SARCs and is completing work on two interactive training DVDs for victim advocates.

SAPRO, under the leadership of Director Kaye Whitley, continues to lead the Department’s effort to transform into action its commitment to sexual assault prevention and response. This undertaking enjoys the support of leaders at all levels, and it will create a climate of confidence and trust where everyone is afforded respect and dignity.