Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military Fiscal Year 2019 0 DOD SAPRO Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military Fiscal Year 2019 The estimated cost of this report for the Department of Defense is approximately $2,367,000 for the 2019 Fiscal Year. This includes $1,863,000 in expenses and $504,000 in labor. Generated on 2020Apr17 RefID: D-A4BC881 1 DOD SAPRO Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................10 Unit Climate ..............................................................................................................................11 Sexual Assault Reporting ..........................................................................................................14 Victim Assistance ......................................................................................................................17 Efforts to Reduce and Stop Sexual Assault ...............................................................................20 Way Forward ............................................................................................................................24 Appendices Appendix A: Additional Accomplishments, Activities, and Outreach Appendix B: Statistical Data on Sexual Assault Appendix C: Metrics and Non-Metrics on Sexual Assault Appendix D: Aggregate DOD Data Matrices Appendix E: Safe Helpline Data Appendix F: Sexual Harassment Assessment Appendix G: Domestic Abuse-Related Sexual Assault Appendix H: Child Sexual Abuse Appendix I: Acronyms List Enclosures Enclosure 1: Department of the Army Enclosure 2: Department of the Navy Enclosure 3: Department of the Air Force Enclosure 4: National Guard Bureau Annexes Annex 1: 2019 Military Service Gender Relations Focus Groups Overview Report Annex 2: 2019 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members Overview Report 2 DOD SAPRO April 2020 Executive Summary The Department of Defense continues to address sexual assault comprehensively. The Department’s approach focuses on prevention by addressing problematic culture and preparing leaders at all levels to promote healthy REPORTING REQUIREMENT unit climates. In addition, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program offers reporting options, including Congress requires the Department to provide an confidential venues, that respect victims’ individual situations annual report on sexual and desired approach to recovery. assaults involving members of the United States Armed This year’s Annual Report provides an update on the Forces. This report satisfies Department’s efforts to combat sexual assault and that requirement. harassment in the military force, and includes sexual assault The Department uses the reporting information, feedback from focus groups, and phrase “sexual assault” to updates on efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault refer to a range of crimes, in Fiscal Year 2019 (October 1, 2018 to September 30, including rape, sexual assault, 2019). forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, and attempts Current State and Enduring Actions to commit these offenses, as defined by the Uniform Code The Department of Defense strives to advance a of Military Justice. military culture free from sexual assault. The Department No sexual assault made progress reducing sexual assault and increasing help- prevalence survey for the seeking and reporting between 2006 and 2016. However, active force was required or the Fiscal Year 2018 scientific survey of the active force conducted this year. found that the estimated past-year prevalence (number of Service members indicating an experience) of sexual THIS YEAR’S FINDINGS: assault increased for women, primarily those aged 17 to 24. Reports of sexual assault Estimated prevalence for men remained unchanged. made to the DOD increased by 3 percent; however, this In May 2019, the then-acting Secretary of Defense cannot be interpreted as an increase in sexual assault issued a “Call to Action” memorandum to focus Department prevalence among the active actions on addressing sexual assault and related risk duty force because a factors, such as sexual harassment, workplace incivility, and prevalence study was not gender discrimination. The “Call to Action” memorandum conducted this year. directed the Department and Military Services to: Focus Groups with junior enlisted members and first Provide commanders with improved means to responders indicated that the assess and address risk factors in military units Department’s 2019 initiatives Prepare new leaders and first-line supervisors to act targeted the right personnel upon misconduct that heightens risk and activities to drive change. The CATCH A Serial Offender Implement the Catch a Serial Offender Program Program launched in August (CATCH) to help address barriers to reporting 2019, with Department-wide sexual assault publicity and participation thereafter. 3 DOD SAPRO Implement Sexual Assault Accountability and THIS YEAR’S FINDINGS Investigation Task Force recommendations to (CONTINUED): improve accountability, comprehensive support to Assessment of the victims, and protection of rights for both the victim Department and Service and the accused headquarters’ primary Execute the Sexual Assault Prevention Plan of prevention capacities found Action to ensure initiatives to reduce and stop similar strengths and sexual assault have the best chance for success challenges. Most strengths included leadership support and collaborative Fiscal Year 2019 Reporting Requirements relationships to enhance ongoing prevention Congress requires the Department to provide an activities. Challenges Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military by April 30 included not having a fully each year. This report covers sexual assault allegations made empowered workforce and a during Fiscal Year 2019. Enclosed with this report are common set of metrics to supplementary reports from the Secretaries of the Military assess prevention effectiveness. Departments and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. This report also includes feedback from 61 focus groups WAY FORWARD FOR FISCAL conducted with 493 active duty members and first responders YEAR 2020: held at 8 installations throughout the continental United Many actions directed in States. First responder participants included civilian and 2019 will continue, including: active duty personnel who are first responders to sexual ­ The Services will update assault, including Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, their junior leader Victim Advocates, healthcare personnel, law enforcement, education and training Military Criminal Investigative Organizations, judge efforts with learning advocates, and chaplains. Focus group results provided in objectives developed the report are not generalizable to the full population of the collaboratively with the Military. Themes should be considered the opinions of focus Department. group participants only and not those of all Service members. ­ New climate survey Per Congressional mandates, the Department did not conduct content will begin fielding. an active duty sexual assault prevalence survey this year. ­ CATCH Program procedures will be Lastly, findings from a scientific survey of the Reserve assessed and updated, Component are included. as needed. New actions include: Fiscal Year 2019 Focus Areas ­ Promoting the Department of Defense The Fiscal Year 2019 report serves as the Safe Helpline and Department’s assessment of the Military Services’ response identifying other ways this service can support the and prevention systems from October 1, 2018 to September needs of victims wanting 30, 2019. This report focuses on strengths and challenges in to make reports of sexual the Military Services’ sexual assault response and prevention assault. systems in the following areas: ­ Piloting prevention workforce training Unit Climate sessions. Sexual Assault Reporting ­ Developing a cross- Victim Assistance cutting prevention policy. Efforts to Reduce and Stop Sexual Assault 4 DOD SAPRO Unit Climate The Department focuses on military climate and culture because over a decade of research, including Departmental surveys, concludes that respectful and healthy workplace climates reduce the risk of sexual assault. This year’s focus group feedback indicates that military culture is heading in the right direction, albeit slowly. Service member participants believed senior leaders actively drove change in their units. Previously admissible “locker room” behaviors face greater scrutiny today, in part due to younger Service members being more aware of what constitutes inappropriate behavior. Participants indicated that generational differences may impact progress in enhancing healthy workplace climates. Male-dominated cultural norms are slowly changing, giving way to more inclusive attitudes. However, the appropriate role for women in the military, occupational differences in women’s acceptance, and cynicism about exceptions to standards based on biological differences remain considerable points of contention. Female participants also indicated that some traditionally male occupations are not as supportive as others that tend to include a greater mix of the sexes. Women also indicated that these challenges vary by unit; moving