Marine Corps Sexual Assault Policy

1
Marine Corps Sexual Assault Policy

• Major Chris Carlson
• Deputy, Military Law Branch
• Judge Advocate Division
• Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

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Goal

• To eliminate sexual assaults committed
• by Marines and assist those effected by sexual
  assault incidents

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Marine Corps Policy

• Sexual Assaults
• are criminal acts
• are not tolerated
• impede morale, effectiveness, efficiency, and
  negatively impairs ability of the Corps to
  function
• Leadership is key to prevention and response
• Every person is treated with dignity and respect
• Hold offenders accountable

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Priorities

• Foster environments to encourage victims to
  report incidents
• Support and assist victims
• Notify PMO of all incidents
• Investigate fully, fairly, and thoroughly
• Continued evaluation and improvement

5
MCO 1752.5 - Sexual Assault Prevention and
Response (Draft)

• Implements Dept of the Navy and USMC policy
• Assigns responsibilities to individual Marines,
  commanders, and HQMC activities
• Provides guidance to address specific needs of
  victims (e.g., treatment and privacy)
• Formalizes under one program, existing and new
  victim-based programs
• Establishes a Sexual Assault Prevention Programs
  Office (SAPPO)
• Mandates a sexual assault incident database

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Prevention, Treatment, and Response

• Education
• Tracking Sexual Assault Incidents
• Victim Advocacy Program
• Victim and Witness Assistance Program
• Assign Responsibilities

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Education

• MCO 1752.5 (when published)
• Leadership and Training
• Sexual assault awareness and prevention at MCRDs,
  OCS, and TBS.
• Annual follow-on training to E1-E7, 02-03, and
  WO1-WO2 during unit battle skills training.
• SNCO academies, First Sergeants course, Career
  Courses (NCOs) and Advance Course (SNCO) via the
  Mentors in Violence Program (MVP).
• Sexual assault reporting and prevention briefings
  to all incoming commanders (O-5 and O-6).

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Tracking Sexual Assaults

• Web-based program
• data entry made at local level
• Provides ability to identify trends
• Situational awareness for leadership
• Will permit tracking of non-identifying
  information for any treatment w/o reporting
  cases

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24/7 Victim Advocacy

• MCO P1700.24B, Personal Services Manual
• Component of Family Advocacy Program
• 29 full/part-time victim advocates/107 volunteers
• Victim Advocates at every installation
• Provide crisis intervention, safety
  plan/referrals, and support victims throughout
  criminal justice process
• Assist commanders
• Receive initial training in community, HQMC
  supplements w/ annual training

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Victim and Witness Assistance Program

• MCO P5800.16A (Legal Administration Manual)
• Applies to ALL victims and witnesses of crime
• Enhances and protects a victims role in criminal
  justice process
• Provides victims with basic rights in criminal
  justice process
• Victims have a designated advisory role
• Assigns responsibilities to key personnel
  involved in criminal justice process

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Responsibility of Commanders

• Foster a command environment that encourages
  reporting
• Take action to eliminate re-victimization
• Pre-deployment training
• Provide support services to deployed personnel
• Publish policies on responsible alcohol use

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Responsibility For All Marines

• Report all incidents - take action when
  witnessing an incident
• Eliminate behaviors that violate USMC ethos
• Become familiar with victim-related resources
• Avoid questioning sexual assault victims unless
  as part of official duty
• Maintain a climate respectful to all

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Questions?