sapr

Bill Bolton
178 Wing Sexual Assault & Response Coordination Office
5319 Regula Ave
Building 118 Office 181 (Near Finance)
Springfield, OH 45502
DSN: 346-2395 COMM: 937-327-2395
24/7: 937-504-3419
                       
JFHQ SAPR Contact Information:
877-751-5628/614-336-4304
Safe Helpline Phone Number
DoD SAFEHELPLINE: (877) 995-5247
Email:  http://www.safehelpline.org
Online chat: http://www.safehelpline.org
http://www.ang.af.mil/prevention
#ANGcares365
Texting: (*55-247)
Texting outside the U.S. (202-470-5546)

Additional Resources

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) - The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.  RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.HOPE in partnership with more than a thousand local sexual assault service providers across the country. It also operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. 

Psychological Health Center of Excellence - PHCoE.  Provides psychological health information and connects service members/families with resources.  1-866-966-1020   

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - OVC administers the Crime Victims Fund channels funding for victim compensation and assistance throughout the United States, raises awareness about victims’ issues, promotes compliance with victims’ rights laws, and provides training and technical assistance and publications and products to victim assistance professionals.

American Psychiatric Association - The American Psychiatric Association is the world's largest psychiatric organization. It is a medical specialty society representing more than 33,000 psychiatric physicians from the United States and around the world. Its member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment. 

American Psychological Association - The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA is the world's largest association of psychologists, with more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. 

Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Office

What is a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)?
The SARC is a Department of Defense employee who manages the installation Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program, serves as the subject matter expert to installation leadership, and coordinates 24/7 victim care and case management for adult (18 years and older) sexual assault victims from initial reporting through legal disposition and resolution. The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) manages allegations when the alleged offender is the partner in context of a spousal relationship, same sex domestic partnership, unmarried intimate partner relationship or military dependents who are 17 years of age and younger.
 
What is a SAPR Victim Advocate (VA)?
A SAPR VA serves as the installation’s primary sexual assault victim advocate, providing support, advocacy, and liaison services to eligible military and civilian sexual assault victims in accordance with DoD and AF policies. SAPR VAs report directly to the SARC.
 
Who is eligible for SAPR support services? 
Active duty members, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members and their dependents (18 years and older) who are eligible for treatment in the military health system, as well as Air Force civilian appropriated and non-appropriated employees.
 
Can I speak to a Chaplain about sexual assault?
Yes.  You may speak to a chaplain any time.  Chaplains provide confidential spiritual advice. Although Chaplains do not take official reports of sexual assault, Chaplains can connect you with your local SARC or SAPR VA (at your request).
 
Can I report a sexual assault to a SARC from another service or base?
If you are eligible for SAPR support services, you may file a report with any DoD SARC regardless of location. However, Air Force civilians are currently the only DoD employees eligible to SAPR services and must engage with Air Force SARCs and SAPR victim advocates (as opposed to other military branches). 

TO REPORT A SEXUAL ASSAULT

First, go to a safe location. 

Contact the 178th Wing Sexual Assault Response coordinator, or healthcare personnel. You may also contact your chain of command or law enforcement (military or civilian), however if you do, an investigation will occur and you will not have the option of making a Restricted Report (see below). 

Seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
 
  • Ask healthcare personnel to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) to preserve forensic evidence. 
  • If you suspect you had been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected. 
Preserve all evidence of the assault. Do not bathe, wash your hands or brush your teeth. Do not clean or straighten up the crime scene. 

Write down, tape or record by any other means all the details you can recall about the assault and your assailant. 

 

REPORTING OPTIONS

Reporting options: Restricted/Unrestricted reporting 

Restricted reporting 
This option is for victims of sexual assault who wish to confidentially disclose the crime to specifically identified individuals and receive medical treatment and services without triggering the official investigative process. Service members who are sexually assaulted and desire restricted reporting under this policy must report the assault to a Sexual Assault Response coordinator (SARC), victim advocate (VA), or a healthcare personnel. 

Healthcare personnel will initiate the appropriate care and treatment, and report the sexual assault to the SARC in lieu of reporting the assault to law enforcement or the chain of command. Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately assign an advocate to the victim. The assigned victim advocate will provide accurate information on the process of restricted and/or unrestricted reporting. 

At the victim's discretion/request an appropriately trained healthcare personnel shall conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE), which may include the collection of evidence. In the absence of a Department of Defense provider, the service member will be referred to an appropriate civilian facility for the SAFE. 

Who may make a restricted report 
Restricted reporting is available at this time only to military personnel of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard. Military personnel include members on active duty and members of the Reserve component (Reserve and National Guard) provided they are performing federal duty (active duty training or inactive duty training and members of the National Guard in Federal (Title 10) status). Members of the Reserve Component not performing Federal duty are not eligible. Retired members of any component are not eligible. Dependents are not eligible. Department of Defense civilian employees are not eligible. 

Considerations when electing a restricted report 
You receive appropriate medical treatment, advocacy, and counseling. 
· Provides some personal space and time to consider your options and to begin the healing process.
· Empowers you to seek relevant information and support to make more informed decisions about participating in the criminal investigation.
· You control the release and management of your personal information.
· You decide whether and when to move forward with initiating an investigation.

Unrestricted reporting 
This option is for victims of sexual assault who desire medical treatment, referral services and an official investigation of the crime. When selecting unrestricted reporting, you should use current reporting channels, e.g. chain of command, law enforcement or report the incident to the Sexual Assault Response coordinator (SARC), or request healthcare personnel to notify law enforcement. Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately assign a victim advocate (VA). At the victim's discretion/request, healthcare personnel shall conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE), which may include the collection of evidence. Details regarding the incident will be limited to only those personnel who have a legitimate need to know. 

Note: Additional restricted and unrestricted reporting considerations can be further be discussed with your Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or VA. 

REPORTING OPTIONS

The Air Force has instituted new avenues for reporting sexual assault in the form of restricted and unrestricted reporting. Restricted Reporting allows a victim to report a sexual assault without triggering an investigation. It is intended to give the survivor time and control over the release of their information. Further, it also empowers the survivor to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process. 

Unrestricted reporting is any report of sexual assault made through normal reporting channels. For example, reports to chain of command, security forces, and/or Air Force Office of Special Investigation (OSI) or National Guard Office of Complex Investigation (OCI). 

A report will be unrestricted if the matter is disclosed to anyone not on the SAPR Team: commanders, first sergeants (anyone in chain of command). Information is shared only with law enforcement/command/medical. It is documented in a secure system and there will be an investigation with possible prosecution

Restricted reporting is available to active duty military, Coast Guard, Reservist performing federal training and members of the National Guard under Title 10 status. It 100 percent confidential.

A report can be restricted when is is disclosed to a SARC/VA. The matter will be kept 100% confidential. The report will be documented for future services in secure system. The survivor will receive privileged medical and physiological services through Veterans Affairs. There will be no investigation/prosecution.

The survivor may at any time decide to change the report from restricted to unrestricted.