Restricted Reporting for Sexual Assault Victims

• Restricted Reporting allows adult sexual assault victims to confidentially report the crime to specific individuals without triggering an official investigation or command notification.
• Service Members or their adult military dependents wanting Restricted Reporting must report through a SARC, SAPR VA, or healthcare provider.
• Special Victims' Counsels/Victims Legal Counsels and chaplains can have confidential communications but cannot file an official Restricted Report, which requires signing a DD Form 2910 with a SARC or SAPR VA.
• Healthcare providers refer patients to SARCs/SAPR VAs but may annotate the Restricted Report in the DD Form 2911, which documents the sexual assault forensic examination.
• Only military personnel and their adult dependents can file a Restricted Report which is documented on DD Form 2910.
• Service members who were victims of sexual assault prior to enlistment or commissioning are eligible for SAPR services under either reporting option.
• The DoD provides support regardless of when or where the sexual assault occurred.
• National Guard and Reserve members assaulted during active service or inactive duty training, or reporting assaults that occurred prior or while not performing such duty, can receive SAPR support and file Restricted or Unrestricted Reports.
• DoD civilians and contractors can only use Unrestricted Reporting meaning it's not confidential.
• The SAPR program does not handle intimate partner violence cases; these are handled by the Family Advocacy Program.
• Restricted Reporting allows victims to receive healthcare, advocacy, and legal advice without notifying command or law enforcement.
• The SARC notifies the installation commander that "an assault" occurred, providing limited details without identifying the victim, for public safety and command responsibility.
• The policy aims to give victims space, time, and control over their information, encouraging them to seek support and make informed decisions about criminal investigation participation.
• Confidentiality can lead to increased reporting rates.
• Even without an official investigation, the commander receives anonymous reporting information, improving their understanding of sexual violence within the command.
• Victims can file a Restricted Report if they did not report the assault to law enforcement or previously elect an Unrestricted Report for the same incident via DD Form 2910 with a SARC or SAPR VA.
• Victims can still file, even if disclosing the incident to their commander/chain of command, or if there is an ongoing or closed MCIO investigation initiated by a third party.
• A concurrent MCIO investigation does not prevent a victim from filing a Restricted Report.
• Filing provides privacy; the commander, knowing of the Restricted Report status, will not ask the SARC/SAPR VA for details or seek to speak to the victim about the incident.
• Victims retain eligibility after the investigation closes to receive SAPR advocacy services, medical/mental healthcare, SVC/VLC, and a safety assessment.
• Victims receive a copy of the completed DD Form 2910, for documentation of their sexual assault report with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) Program allows victims to anonymously disclose suspect information to help the DoD identify serial offenders.
• Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and a Restricted Report is not converted without permission.

Restricted Reporting Example

• A Service Member reports sexual assault in the emergency room; healthcare personnel notify the SARC and provide medical treatment without contacting law enforcement.
• The SARC assigns a SAPR VA to explain Unrestricted and Restricted Reporting options, including pros and cons.
• The Service Member chooses Restricted Reporting and agrees to a forensic examination.
• The SAPR VA informs healthcare personnel of the Restricted Reporting election and the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) request.
• Forensic evidence is collected and preserved with a computer-generated number instead of the victim's name.
• Healthcare personnel schedules follow-up medical and mental healthcare.
• The SARC or SAPR VA offers a referral to a Special Victims’ Counsel (Army, Air Force) or a Victims Legal Counsel (Navy, USMC).
• The SAPR VA advises the SARC of the Restricted Reporting election.
• Within 24 hours, the SARC informs the senior commander that "an assault" occurred, providing general details without the victim's name or easily deducible information.
• The SARC maintains information on sexual assaults for both Unrestricted and Restricted Reports.
• Restricted Report numbers are included in the DoD Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military.
• The SAPR VA maintains contact with the victim for ongoing support.

Considerations

Benefits

• Receiving healthcare and victim advocacy as soon as possible after the assault is crucial to recovery.
• Restricted Reporting provides personal space and time to consider options and begin healing.
• It empowers victims to seek information and make informed decisions about participating in the criminal investigation and allows time to get legal advice.
• Victims control the release and management of their personal information.
• Victims decide whether and when to initiate an investigation.
• Participating in the CATCH Program allows contact if there is evidence of a repeat offender, to then decide whether to convert the report.

Limitations

• The assailant cannot be held accountable and may assault other victims.
• Victims cannot receive a military protective order or request an Expedited Transfer.
• Victims may continue to have contact with the assailant if they are in the same organization or billeted together.
• Evidence from the crime scene may be lost, creating obstacles if the victim switches to Unrestricted Reporting.
• Victims should not discuss the assault with anyone, including friends, because they may be mandatory reporters, with exceptions for chaplains, healthcare personnel, SAPR VA/SARC, and Special Victims' Counsel.

Restricted Reporting allows confidential reporting of sexual assault without triggering an official investigation. It is available to service members and their adult dependents through specific channels like SARCs, SAPR VAs, or healthcare providers. This ensures victims can seek support and medical attention without mandatory command involvement.