AR 600-20, Army Command Policy - Army Publishing Directorate ...

(2) Advise the victim on their options for restricted and unrestricted reporting when assigned a sexual assault case
by the SARC; ensure victim acknowledges in writing his/her preference for restricted or unrestricted reporting. (If the
victim chooses the restricted reporting option, the victim must acknowledge in writing that they understand restricted
reporting may limit the ability of the Army to prosecute the assailant and an understanding of why Army policy favors
unrestricted reporting.)
(a) If the victim chooses the restricted reporting option, the IVA will ensure the victim is taken to a healthcare
provider in lieu of reporting the incident to law enforcement or command.
(b) If the victim chooses the unrestricted reporting option, the IVA will immediately notify law enforcement and the
healthcare provider.
(c) For the purposes of public safety and command responsibility, the IVA will provide information to the SARC,
who will in turn report the sexual assault, without information that could reasonably lead to personal identification of
the victim, to the installation commander within 24 hours of the incident.
(3) Be knowledgeable about services available to sexual assault victims on the installation as well as in the
surrounding community. The IVA will maintain contact with agencies that provide such services, being knowledgeable
of the location, telephone number, confidentiality policies and procedures for accessing service at these agencies.
(4) Provide crisis intervention, referral, and ongoing emotional support to the sexual assault victims. Services will be
non-clinical in nature. The victim has the right to independently determine whether to accept the offer of IVA services.
The IVA must be sensitive to the needs of each victim and tailor services to meet those needs.
(5) Provide initial information to victims on their rights, to include the right to refuse services and explain the scope
and limitations of IVAs role as an advocate.
(6) Accompany the victim during investigative interviews and medical examinations, unless the victim chooses not
to use the IVAs services. The IVA will not make decisions for the victim, speak for the victim, or interfere with the
legitimate operations of medical, investigative, and judicial processes.
(7) Coordinate activities with the SARC and, as needed, with the UVA, on a need-to-know basis, to ensure the best
services are provided to victims and to avoid duplication of services.
(8) Provide information on sexual assault issues and victims status to the SARC at an interval determined by the
SARC or more frequently if the situation warrants.
(9) Provide on-call services after normal duty hours to victims of sexual assault as needed. The SARC must be fully
informed within 2 hours of the start of the next day of all activities that occurred during the on-call duty period.
(10) Provide education and training on the subject of sexual assault to UVAs and other Soldiers as required.
(11) Complete required reports on incidents of sexual assault, to include referrals to victim services. Provide sexual
assault reports to the SARC for submission into SADMS.
(12) Safeguard documents in their possession and all information pertaining to victims of sexual assault always
being mindful of the victims’ right to confidentiality.
(13) Attend ongoing training, as required or recommended by the SARC.
(14) Assist the UVA on performance of their duties as directed by the SARC.
s. Unit victim advocates. The UVA is one of two Soldiers/civilians who is appointed on orders by each battalionlevel
commander and trained to perform collateral duties in support of victims of sexual assault, particularly in
deployed environments. UVAs are supervised in the performance of their duties by the SARC. The UVA will be an
NCO (SSG or higher), officer (1LT/CW2 or higher), or civilian (GS–9 or higher). The UVAs will—
(1) When assigned by the SARC, provide crisis intervention, referral, and ongoing non-clinical support to the sexual
assault victim. In the case of multiple victims, each victim should have a VA (IVA or UVA). The victim alone will
decide whether to accept the offer of victim advocacy services.
(2) Report to and coordinate directly with the SARC or designated IVA when assigned to assist a victim of sexual
assault.
(3) Meet standards for selection and attend annual and ongoing training.
(4) Inform victims of their options for restricted and unrestricted reporting, and explain the scope and limitations of
the UVA’s role as an advocate. If the victim chooses the restricted reporting option, the victim must acknowledge, in
writing, that they understand restricted reporting may limit the ability of the Army to prosecute the assailant and an
understanding of why Army policy favors unrestricted reporting.
(a) If the victim chooses the restricted reporting option, ensure the victim is taken to a healthcare provider in lieu of
reporting the incident to law enforcement or chain of command.
(b) If the victim chooses the unrestricted reporting option, UVA will immediately notify law enforcement and the
healthcare provider.
(c) For the purposes of public safety and command responsibility, the UVA will provide information to the SARC/
deployable SARC who will in turn report the sexual assault, without information that could reasonably lead to personal
identification of the victim, to the installation commander/senior mission commander within 24 hours of the incident.
(5) Inform victims of the options to use service providers (for example, medical, legal, and chaplain) and resources
available to victims.
76 AR 600–20 18 March 2008