SARC, SVC provide aid to victims

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hailey Staker
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  How different are sexual harassment and sexual assault? Or better yet, what are the definitions for these crimes, according to the Air Force?

Sexual harassment is defined as a form of sexual discrimination that involves unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature or "quid pro quo;" whereas sexual assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.

When these crimes are committed many agencies become involved including the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and the Special Victims Council. However, these agencies only become involved once a report has been made.

"When we have a victim of sexual assault, they'll go to Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and SARC will do their part and ask if they would like SVC representation," said Staff Sgt. Larra Stewart, Air Force Legal Operations Agency special victim's council paralegal. "If they do, they will contact us through a referral form and we will get in contact with the client, assign an attorney to that client and then we will start our attorney-client representation."

There are two ways to report sexual harassment or assault: restricted and unrestricted.

"A restricted report is a report that is made through a victim advocate or a SARC and the individual can still receive medical care, counseling and legal assistance, but we do not notify their chain of command or the Office of Special Investigations, so there is not an investigation," said Capt. Emily Meredith, 18th Force Support Squadron Community Services Flight commander and prior SARC. "With unrestricted reports, OSI will open up an investigation and we notify the member's commander and first sergeant."

The purpose of both the SARC and the SVC is to protect the rights and privacy of victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The SVC however, has another purpose; to provide legal assistance wherever possible.

"There are three main purposes of the program," said Capt. Bradley Mumford, AFLOA special victim's council attorney. "(The program) provides advice to victims and helps them understand their right in the investigatory and military justice process, provides advocacy to protect those rights and also empowers victims to fully participate in the military justice process if they so choose."

Mumford added that educating the individuals on their rights, the legal process, how to understand when they get input, as well as making sure their input is considered by appropriate individuals is another priority during SVC attorney representation.

With this specialized representation, some individuals may not be asked what they want in regard to their case, Stewart said.

"As the SVC, we always try to engage our victims with every aspect of the military justice process and the victims really appreciate that because they have somebody on their side who is looking out for the best interests of them," Stewart said.

Meredith added that the purpose of a SARC is to provide victims the care they may need, whether it's physical, emotional, mental or spiritual so they can get the help they need after something has happened.

"Some people may feel like they have completely lost all dignity and respect because of what happened to them, and that (loss of) dignity and respect may be because of how other people are treating them or how they perceive they are being treated," Meredith said. "We want to help them to regain that, whether it's through talking to a counselor, chaplain or utilizing a victim advocate so they feel that they are valued and are still a valued member of society."

The main thing to remember is that, whether submitting a restricted or unrestricted report, these reports and the victim advocates are completely confidential and the care these representatives provide to individuals may give back their voice, or allow them to seek justice for what has happened to them.