If You Have Been Assaulted

If you have been, or think you have been, sexually assaulted:

1. Go to a safe location away from the attacker.
2. Preserve all evidence of the assault. Do not bathe, wash your hands or brush your teeth. If you are still where the crime occurred, Do not clean, or straighten up, or remove anything from the crime scene.
3. Contact a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or Victim Advocate (VA).
   • Local information provided by your Military Service or Hotline Number
   • Contact Military One Source 24/7 for Restricted/Unrestricted Reporting, Local SARC/VA Points of Contact and Established DoD Sexual Assault Services.
     • Stateside: 1-800-342-9647
     • Overseas: 00-800-3429-6477
     • Overseas Collect: 1-484-530-5908
4. Ask the health care personnel about performing a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) to preserve forensic evidence.
   • Ask the health care personnel to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) to preserve forensic evidence.
   • If you suspect you have been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected.
5. Write down, tape or record by any other means all the details you can recall about the assault and your assailant.

Responding to Reports of Sexual Assault

The Department of Defense is committed to providing you full and complete care, treatment and counseling. Your installation will ensure that you receive all necessary services even if it must obtain them from civilian providers.

The position of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) has been established to coordinate sexual assault victim care. Upon receipt of a report of sexual assault, the SARC will assign a Victim Advocate (VA) to help you obtain necessary services and to provide crisis intervention, referral and ongoing nonclinical support. Support will include providing information on available options and resources so you can make informed decisions about your case situation.

The VA will accompany you, if desired, to interviews and appointments.

Your VA will continue to assist you until you no longer feel a need for support.

Role of the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)

The SARC is responsible for ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate and responsive care. SARCs serve as the single point of contact to coordinate sexual assault victim care. The term Sexual Assault Response Coordinator is a standardized term utilized throughout DoD and the Services to facilitate communication and transparency regarding sexual assault response capability.

Some functions of a SARC are:

• Ensures there is 24/7 response capability
  • Ensures appropriate care is coordinated and provided to victims
  • Tracks the services provided from initial report through final disposition
  • Advocates to ensure the views of the victim are considered in the decision-making process
• Reports directly to a senior installation or geographic commander
• Provides commander with broader understanding of command climate in regards to sexual assault
• Manages victim advocates during the performance of advocacy duties
• Oversight of all sexual assault cases
• Assigns a Victim Advocate (VA) to a case
• Conducts sexual assault case management
• Chairs monthly case management meeting
• Tracks/reports sexual assault numbers
• Tracks the dispositions of all military sexual assault cases monthly/quarterly/annual reports
• Oversees training and education for:
  • Victim Advocates
  • Community
  • Responders

Role of the Victim Advocate

VAs provide direct assistance to victims. They listen to victims' needs and then connect them with appropriate resources, including medical care, mental health care, legal advice and spiritual support. VAs work with victims to help them make informed choices and then support them every step of the way.

Some functions of a Victim Advocate are:

• Reports directly to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) for Victim Advocate duties
• Available to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Provides ongoing nonclinical support
• Facilitates care for the victim
• Provides information on options and resources
• Assists victim with accessing resources
• Accompanies victim to appointments, if desired
• Provides monthly case status updates to the victim