Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. Fiscal Year 2013

Abstract

The Department assesses the unprecedented increase in reports received in FY13 as consistent with a growing level of confidence in the DoD response system. This year, a record number of victims sought assistance and care by making a report. Since 2006, the average annual increase in reports of sexual assault has been approximately five percent. In FY13, reports of sexual assault increased by 50 percent from FY12. Given the relatively unchanged rates of unwanted sexual contact since 2006 (between four percent and seven percent for women and between one percent and two percent for men), it is unlikely the increase in reports this year is due to increased crime. Scheduled for release in April 2015, the 2014 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (WGRA) will update rates of past-year prevalence of USC. Provisions enacted in FY13, such as the special victims advocacy program, will further support victim participation in the military justice system. Despite improvements in reporting, sexual assault remains a persistent problem. The Department is committed to ensuring that the needs of the victims are addressed while ensuring the interest of justice is served. While holding offenders appropriately accountable sends a strong deterrence message to those that might commit the crime, further progress in reducing the prevalence of sexual assault can only come through prevention. During FY14, the Department will intensify our efforts to prevent the crime and will implement a coordinated, DoD-wide prevention strategy designed to reduce the occurrence of sexual assault. The Department will also continue to provide advocacy and support services to help victims along their path of recovery. In addition, the Department will continue implementing and improving a comprehensive and multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program that inspires reporting, provides a high quality response system, and holds offenders appropriately accoutable.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 16, 2014
Accession Number
ADA599940

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Doctrine
  • Drug Abuse
  • Employment
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Management Personnel
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Recreation
  • Students
  • Warfare

Readers

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