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AF continues focus on sexual assault prevention, awareness, victim advocacy

  • Published
  • By 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and the goal is to motivate communities to stand together against sexual violence and educate everyone on how to prevent it.

Awareness activities included a Victim Advocate appreciation lunch on Monday and the following activities are slated for the rest of the month:

--Today:  Showing of the movie "The Hunting Ground" documentary, 1 p.m., Library Auditorium
--April 8: "Put sexual assault in the gutter bowl-a-thon," 10-noon and 12:30-2:30 p.m. Cost is three games for $5 plus $2 for shoe rental
--April 15: "Turn to teal" SAPR 5K run/walk, 8:15 a.m., Parade Field
--April 29:  Showing of the movie "The Hunting Ground" documentary, 1 p.m., Library Auditorium

In addition, teal ribbons have been placed along Scott Drive as a visual reminder of the month's awareness objectives.

The Scott Air Force Base SAPR office serves as the single point of contact for providing 24/7 response and support services to adult victims of sexual assault.  Services are provided to roughly 5,500 active duty military, 2,300 guard and reserve, and over 5,000 Department of Defense civilian personnel. 

The SAPR office offers restricted and unrestricted reporting.  A restricted report enables active duty military members, their adult dependents 18 years old and older, and AF DoD civilians to report sexual assault to specified personnel without triggering an investigation.  Only the following personnel have confidentiality and can maintain a restricted report: the SARC, a healthcare provider, victim advocate, Chaplain, or the Special Victims Counsel.  A restricted report will not trigger an investigation; its purpose being to empower the victim to seek relevant information and support, and to make informed decisions.   

An unrestricted report is any report of a sexual assault made through normal reporting or mandated reporting channels.  These include the victim's chain of command, to include immediate supervisor, First Sergeant, law enforcement, AF Office of Special Investigations, or other criminal investigative service.  Details of the report will be provided only to those personnel who have a legitimate need to know. 
Both reporting options allow the victim access to medical care, counseling, victim advocacy, and when eligible, Special Victims Counsel.  

Special Victims' Counsel are experienced, independent judge advocates who provide confidential legal advice to victims of sexual assault.  To that end, SVCs have a separate and independent chain of command which allows the SVC to fully advocate for victims' wishes.  Conversations between a victim and their SVC are fully protected by the robust attorney-client privilege as well.

SVCs advocate to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect throughout the military justice process.  Accordingly, SVCs provide legal advice and representation throughout the whole military justice process, provide counsel on available support services, and stand up to protect victims' rights in courts-martial.  SVCs are allowed to represent any Active Duty or Reserve AF member who has been a victim of sexual assault, as well as DOD civilians, dependents, and other Services' members when the perpetrator is a member of the AF. 

Once an Air Force investigation is initiated, Victim/Witness Assistance Program is available to assist all victims of crimes, including sexual assault victims.  The assistance is rendered though a VWAP representative, usually someone from the base legal office, assigned to support a victim during the investigation and prosecution of the case.

VWAP representatives keep victims informed of the status of investigation, help them navigate through the military justice process, and ensure that victims have a voice in the process.  In some cases, VWAP also assists eligible victims with obtaining transitional compensation.

For more information about any of the programs, please contact the Scott AFB SAPR office at 256-7272, the Scott AFB SVC at 229-1670, and the Scott VWAP at 256-4156.