(a) In accordance with the authority in DoDD 5124.02, the USD(P&R) shall:

(1) Develop overall policy and provide oversight for the DoD SAPR Program, except legal processes in the UCMJ and criminal investigative matters assigned to the Judge Advocates General of the Military Departments, and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and IG, DoD respectively.

(2) Develop strategic program guidance, joint planning objectives, standard terminology, and identify legislative changes needed to ensure the future availability of resources in support of DoD SAPR policies.

(3) Develop metrics to measure compliance and effectiveness of SAPR training, awareness, prevention, and response policies and programs. Analyze data and make recommendations regarding the SAPR policies and programs to the Secretaries of the Military Departments.

(4) Monitor compliance with this part and DoDI 6495.02, and coordinate with the Secretaries of the Military Departments regarding Service SAPR policies.

(5) Collaborate with Federal and State agencies that address SAPR issues and serve as liaison to them as appropriate. Strengthen collaboration on sexual assault policy matters with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the issues of providing high quality and accessible health care and benefits to victims of sexual assault.

(6) Oversee the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). Serving as the DoD single point of authority, accountability, and oversight for the SAPR program, SAPRO provides recommendations to the USD(P&R) on the issue of DoD sexual assault policy matters on prevention, response, and oversight. The SAPRO Director will be appointed from among general or flag officers of the Military Services or DoD employees in a comparable Senior Executive Service position in accordance with Public Law 112-81 . The SAPRO Director is responsible for:

(i) Implementing and monitoring compliance with DoD sexual assault policy on prevention and response, except for legal processes in the UCMJ and Manual for Courts-Martial and criminal investigative matters assigned to the Judge Advocates General of the Military Departments, and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and IG respectively.

(ii) Providing technical assistance to the Heads of the DoD Components in addressing matters concerning SAPR.

(iii) Acquiring quarterly and annual SAPR data from the Military Services, assembling annual congressional reports involving persons covered by this part and DoDI 6495.0, and consult with and relying on the Judge Advocates General of the Military Departments, and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in questions concerning disposition results of sexual assault cases in their respective departments.

(iv) Establishing reporting categories and monitoring specific goals included in the annual SAPR assessments of each Military Service, in their respective departments.

(v) Overseeing the creation, implementation, maintenance, and function of DSAID, an integrated database that will meet congressional reporting requirements, support Service SAPR Program management, and inform DoD SAPRO oversight activities.

(vi) Overseeing development of strategic program guidance and joint planning objectives for resources in support of the SAPR Program, and making recommendations on modifications to policy, law, and regulations needed to ensure the continuing availability of such resources (Pub. L. 113-66).

(b) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)), under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(P&R), shall advise the USD(P&R) on DoD sexual assault healthcare policies, clinical practice guidelines, related procedures, and standards governing DoD healthcare programs for victims of sexual assault. The ASD(HA) shall direct that all sexual assault patients be given priority, so that they shall be treated as emergency cases.

(c) The Director of the Defense Human Resources Activity (DoDHRA), under the authority, direction, and control of USD(P&R), shall provide operational support to the USD(P&R) as outlined in paragraph (a)(6) of this section.

(d) The General Counsel of the DoD (GC, DoD), shall provide legal advice and assistance on all legal matters, including the review and coordination of all proposed issuances and exceptions to policy and the review of all legislative proposals affecting mission and responsibilities of the DoD SAPRO.

(e) The IG, DoD, shall:

(1) Develop and oversee the promulgation of criminal investigative and law enforcement policy regarding sexual assault and establish guidelines for the collection and preservation of evidence with non-identifiable personal information on the victim, for the Restricted Reporting process, in coordination with the ASD(HA).

(2) Oversee criminal investigations of sexual assault conducted by the DoD Components.

(3) Collaborate with the DoD SAPRO on sexual assault matters in the development of investigative policy in support of sexual assault prevention and response.

(f) The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall:

(1) Establish departmental policies and procedures to implement the SAPR Program consistent with the provisions of this part and DoDI 6495.02, to include the Military Academies within their cognizance; monitor departmental compliance with this part and DoDI 6495.02.

(2) Coordinate all Military Service SAPR policy changes with the USD(P&R).

(3) In coordination with USD(P&R), implement recommendations regarding Military Service compliance and effectiveness of SAPR training, awareness, prevention, and response policies and programs.

(4) Align Service SAPR Strategic Plans with the DoD SAPR Strategic Plan.

(5) Align Service prevention strategies with the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy.

(i) Influencing Policy

(ii) Changing Organizational Practices

(iii) Fostering Coalitions and Networks

(iv) Educating Providers

(v) Promoting Community Education

(vi) Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills

(6) Require commanders to ensure that healthcare (including emergency care) and SAPR services are provided to victims of sexual assaults in a timely manner unless declined by the victim.

(7) Utilize the terms “Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)” and “SAPR Victim Advocate (VA),” as defined in this part and DoDI 6495.02, as standard terms to facilitate communications and transparency regarding sexual assault response capacity.

(8) Establish the position of the SARC to serve as the single point of contact for ensuring that sexual assault victims receive appropriate and responsive care. The SARC should be a Service member, DoD civilian employee, or National Guard technician.

(9) Provide program-appropriate resources to enable the Combatant Commanders to achieve compliance with the policies set forth in this part and DoDI 6495.02.

(10) Establish and codify Service SAPR Program support to Combatant Commands and Defense Agencies, either as a host activity or in a deployed environment.

(11) Provide SAPR Program and obligation data to the USD(P&R), as required.

(12) Submit required data to DSAID. Require confirmation that a multi-disciplinary case management group (CMG) tracks each open Unrestricted Report, is chaired by the installation commander (or the deputy installation commander), and that CMG meetings are held monthly for reviewing all Unrestricted Reports of sexual assaults in accordance with DoD Instruction 6495.02.

(13) Provide annual reports of sexual assaults involving persons covered by this part and DoDI 6495.02 to the DoD SAPRO for consolidation into the annual report to Congress in accordance with sections 577 of Public Law 108-375.

(14) Provide data connectivity, or other means, to authorized users to ensure all sexual assaults reported in theater and other joint environments are incorporated into the DSAID, or authorized interfacing systems for the documentation of reports of sexual assault, as required by section 563 of Public Law 110-417.

(15) Ensure that Service data systems used to report case-level sexual assault information into the DSAID are compliant with DoD data reporting requirements, pursuant to section 563 of Public Law 110-417.

(16) Require extensive, continuing in-depth SAPR training for DoD personnel and specialized SAPR training for commanders, senior enlisted leaders, SARCs, SAPR VAs, investigators, law enforcement officials, chaplains, healthcare personnel, and legal personnel in accordance with the requirements in DoDI 6495.02.

(17) Require the installation SARC and the installation FAP staff to coordinate together when a sexual assault occurs as a result of domestic abuse or domestic violence or involves child abuse to ensure the victim is directed to FAP.

(18) Oversee sexual assault training within the DoD law enforcement community.

(19) Direct that Service military criminal investigative organizations require their investigative units to communicate with their servicing SARC and participate with the multi-disciplinary Case Management Group convened by the SARC, in accordance with this part and DoDI 6495.02.

(20) Provide commanders with procedures that:

(i) Establish guidance for when a Military Protective Order (MPO) has been issued, that the Service member who is protected by the order is informed, in a timely manner, of the member's option to request transfer from the command to which that member is assigned in accordance with section 567(c) of Public Law 111-84.

(ii) Ensure that the appropriate civilian authorities shall be notified of the issuance of an military protective order (MPO) and of the individuals involved in the order, when an MPO has been issued against a Service member or when any individual addressed in the MPO does not reside on a military installation at any time when an MPO is in effect. An MPO issued by a military commander shall remain in effect until such time as the commander terminates the order or issues a replacement order. (See section 561 of Pub. L.110-417.) The issuing commander also shall notify the appropriate civilian authorities of any change made in a protective order covered by Chapter 80 of Title 10, U.S.C., and the termination of the protective order.

(iii) Ensure that the person seeking the MPO shall be advised that the MPO is not enforceable by civilian authorities off base and that victims desiring protection off base are advised to seek a civilian protective order (see section 561 of 110-417 and section 567(c) of Pub. L. 111-84).

(g) On behalf and with the approval of the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force, and in coordination with DoD SAPRO and the State Adjutants General, the Chief, NGB establishes and implements SAPR policy and procedures for National Guard members on duty pursuant to Title 32, U.S.C.

(h) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall:

(1) Assess SAPR as part of the overall force planning function of any force deployment decision, and periodically reassess the SAPR posture of deployed forces.

(2) Monitor implementation of this part, DoDI 6495.02, and implementing instructions, including during military operations.

(3) Utilize the terms “Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)” and “SAPR Victim Advocate (VA),” as defined in this part and DoDI 6495.02, as standard terms to facilitate communications and transparency regarding sexual assault response capacity.

(4) Review relevant documents, including the Combatant Commanders' joint plans, operational plans, concept plans, and deployment orders, to ensure they identify and include SAPR Program requirements.

(i) The Commanders of the Combatant Commands, in coordination with the other Heads of the DoD Components and through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall:

(1) Establish policies and procedures to implement the SAPR Program and oversee compliance with this part and DoDI 6495.02 within their areas of responsibility and during military operations.

(2) Formally document agreements with installation host Service commanders, component theater commanders, or other heads of another agency or organization, for investigative, legal, healthcare, counseling, or other response support provided to incidents of sexual assault.

(3) Direct that relevant documents are drafted, including joint operational plans and deployment orders, that establish theater-level requirements for the prevention of and response to incidents of sexual assault that occur, to include during the time of military operations.

(4) Require that sexual assault response capability information be provided to all persons within their area of responsibility covered by this part and DoDI 6495.02, to include reporting options and SAPR services available at deployed locations and how to access these options.

(5) Ensure that healthcare (including emergency care) and SAPR services are provided to victims of sexual assaults in a timely manner unless declined by the victim.

(6) Direct subordinate commanders coordinate relationships and agreements for host or installation support at forward-deployed locations to ensure a sexual assault response capability is available to members of their command and persons covered by this part and DoDI 6495.02 as consistent with operational requirements.

(7) Direct that sexual assault incidents are given priority so that they shall be treated as emergency cases.

(8) Direct subordinate commanders provide all personnel with procedures to report sexual assaults.

(9) Require subordinate commanders at all levels to monitor the command climate with respect to SAPR, and take appropriate steps to address problems.

(10) Require that SAPR training for DoD personnel and specialized training for commanders, senior enlisted leaders, SARCs, SAPR VAs, investigators, law enforcement officials, chaplains, healthcare personnel, and legal personnel be conducted prior to deployment in accordance with DoDI 6495.02.

(11) Direct subordinate commanders to develop procedures that:

(i) Establish guidance for when an MPO has been issued, that the Service member who is protected by the order is informed, in a timely manner, of the member's option to request transfer from the command to which that member is assigned in accordance with section 567(c) of Public Law 111-84.

(ii) In OCONUS areas, if appropriate, direct that the appropriate civilian authorities be notified of the issuance of an MPO and of the individuals involved in an order when an MPO has been issued against a Service member or when any individual involved in the MPO does not reside on a military installation when an MPO is in effect. An MPO issued by a military commander shall remain in effect until such time as the commander terminates the order or issues a replacement order. (See section 561 of Pub. L. 110-417.) The issuing commander also shall notify the appropriate civilian authorities of any change made in a protective order covered by Chapter 80 of Title 10, U.S.C. and the termination of the protective order.

(iii) Ensure that the person seeking the MPO is advised that the MPO is not enforceable by civilian authorities off base and victims desiring protection off base should be advised to seek a civilian protective order in that jurisdiction pursuant to section 562 of Public Law 110-417.

(12) Establish guidance for when an Expedited Transfer has been requested in accordance with DoD Instruction 6495.02.

(j) The Director, DoDHRA, shall provide operational support to the USD(P&R) as outlined in paragraph (a)(6) of this section.

[78 FR 20445, Apr. 5, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 66188, Sept. 27, 2016]