Department of the Navy

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Department of the Navy

This instruction updates policy and procedural guidance for the Department of the Navy (DON) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program, and implements DoD Instruction 6495.02, "Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures." This instruction applies to all organizational entities of the DON and its two component Military Services, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, including their reserve components. No form of sexual assault is ever acceptable anywhere in the DON. We seek a Department-wide culture of gender dignity and respect where sexual assault is completely eliminated and never tolerated, where sexual assault victims receive compassionate and coordinated support, and where offenders are held appropriately accountable. Every Sailor, Marine, and DON civilian shares dual responsibilities for their own actions and for protecting each other from harm. Our Core Values demand nothing less. Combating sexual assault and supporting sexual assault victims are primary responsibilities at every level of civilian and military leadership. Commanders must take every report of sexual assault seriously, immediately refer reports to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for investigation, support investigative and criminal justice procedures that enable persons to be held appropriately accountable, and actively protect sexual assault victims from retaliation or revictimization. We seek to help sexual assault victims heal as individuals and succeed in their careers. Individuals who file an Unrestricted or Restricted Report of sexual assault must be protected from reprisal, or threat of reprisal, for filing a report. Victim-support SAPR services and medical care must be victim-centric, gender-responsive, culturally competent, and recovery-oriented. Sexual assault victims shall be given priority and treated as emergency cases. To the maximum extent possible, processes and terminology shall be standardized across Services and organizations. The establishment of performance standards for key victim-support processes, and their periodic structured assessment, are necessary for ensuring consistent and effective victim support.