Sexual-assault prevention and response site provides resources for service members

By DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response OfficeJune 7, 2013

SAPRO Seal
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The Department of Defense's sexual assault policy is that this crime has no place in the United States Armed Forces. Our men and women serving throughout the world deserve nothing less. Their leaders, both military and civilian, are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that rejects sexual assault and reinforces a culture of prevention, response and accountability. This website is a resource for all those who deal with or have been affected by this sensitive issue. Together we can achieve a culture free of sexual assaults.

The DOD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, or SAPRO, is the organization responsible for the oversight of DOD sexual assault policy. The DOD is committed to the prevention of sexual assault. The Department has implemented a comprehensive policy to ensure the safety, dignity and well being of all members of the Armed Forces. Our men and women serving throughout the world deserve nothing less, and their leaders -- both Military and civilian -- are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that rejects sexual assault and reinforces a culture of prevention, response and accountability.

The organization's vision is to enable military readiness by establishing a culture free of sexual assault

This organization's website, at http://www.sapr.mil, provides guidance and other information for victims of sexual assault, the individuals they turn to, unit commanders, first responders and others dealing with this sensitive issue. This site addresses confidentiality, reporting procedures and other elements of DOD's sexual assault policy as well as training information, safety tips, resources and links to related websites.

In a press release dated May 7, 2013, the DOD reported the follow sexual assault statistics for fiscal year 2012:

Today, the Department of Defense released the fiscal 2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military and announced a series of actions to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the armed forces.

Annually, as required by the Ike Skleton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, the department released Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. To date, this is the ninth report DOD has issued.

In fiscal year 2012, there were a total of 3,374 reports of sexual assault involving service members as victims or subjects, an increase from the 3,192 reports received in fiscal 2011. These reports involved offenses ranging from abusive sexual contact to rape.

"This is a defining time for our entire military community," said Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton, director, DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. "Our continuing focus is on the health and safety of our service members. Our troops take care of each other on the battlefield better than any military in the world, and now we must extend that same ethos of care to combating sexual assault. Based on long-standing traditions of excellence and leadership, I am confident in our ability to eliminate sexual assault from our military environment."

The annual report also includes findings from the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a joint effort between the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Justice, and DOD. This survey used a common approach to assess representative samples from the civilian, military, and military spouse populations. After adjusting for age and marital status differences between the samples, survey results showed risk of contact sexual violence is the same for military and civilian women in the past year, the past three years, and their lifetime.

The 2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, which also includes findings from the 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of active duty and reserve component members, is available at http://www.sapr.mil.