The Department of Defense and U.S. Marine Corps is committed to providing you full and complete care, treatment and counseling.  Marine Corps Base Quantico will ensure you will receive all necessary services, even if it must obtain them from civilian providers.

The position of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) has been established to coordinate sexual assault victim care.  Upon receipt of a report of sexual assault, the SARC will assign a SAPR Victim Advocate ( SAPR VA) or Victim Advocate (VA) to help you obtain necessary services and to provide crisis intervention, referral and ongoing non-clinical support.  Support will include providing information on available options and resources so you can make informed decisions about your case.

The SAPR VA/VA will accompany you, if desired, to investigative interviews, medical examinations and follow-up appointments.

Your SAPR VA/VA will continue to assist you until you no longer feel a need for support.

The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) is considered the center of gravity when it comes to ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate and responsive care.  They serve as the single point of contact to coordinate sexual assault victim care.   The term Sexual Assault Response Coordinator is a standardized term utilized throughout DoD and the Services to facilitate communication and transparency regarding sexual assault response capability.

Functions of a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

• Reports directly to a senior installation or geographic Commander

• Provides Commander with broader understanding of command climate in regards to sexual assault
• Manages SAPR Victim Advocates (UVA) and Victim Advocates (VA) during the performance of advocacy duties
  • Oversight of all sexual assault cases
  • Assigns a SAPR VA/VA to a case
• Conducts sexual assault case management
  • Entire lifecycle
  • Tracks services of victim from initial report to resolution
• Chairs monthly case management meeting
• Tracks/Reports sexual assault numbers
  • Tracks the dispositions of all military sexual assault cases Monthly / Quarterly / Annual Reports
• Oversees training and education
  • SAPR Victim Advocates and Victim Advocates  
  • Responders

The SAPR Victim Advocate (SAPR VA) and Victim Advocate (VA) provide essential support and care to the victim to include providing non-clinical information on available options and resources to assist the victim in making informed decisions as they progress through resolution and healing.  The SAPR VA/VA maintains communications and contact with the victim as needed for continued victim support.

Functions of a SAPR Victim Advocate (SAPR VA) and Victim Advocate (VA)

• Reports directly to Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) for Victim Advocate Duties
• Only credentialed and appointed Service members or DoD civilians will serve as SARCs or SAPR VAs
• Supports assigned victim
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Referrals
  • Ongoing Non-Clinical Support
  • Policy / Process Guidance
  • • Information on Options
    • Information and Referral to Resources
  • Facilitates Monthly Case Status Updates
  • Available to respond 24/7

The nature of the investigative process can be stressful for victims of sexual assault despite the sincere efforts of law enforcement, staff judge advocate and other personnel entrusted with bringing offenders to justice. Investigators must carefully collect evidence, and the process from investigation to courts martial or some other form of punishment may take many months. They must often ask you, the victim, very precise and probing questions because there usually are no eyewitnesses to provide crucial details. You may not feel you are ready to answer questions so soon after your assault, but the investigators need to interview you while your memories are fresh. Much patience will be required on your part.

You will be kept well-informed of any investigative actions taken in response to your reported sexual assault. Your commander, will ensure, at a minimum, you receive a monthly update regarding the current status of any on-going investigative, medical, legal or command proceedings regarding the sexual assault. This requirement is in addition to those established by the Victim-Witness Assistance Program. Monthly updates are required until the final disposition of the reported assault. “Final disposition” means the conclusion of any judicial, non-judicial, and administrative actions (including separation actions and no action).