BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- “Our SAPR (Sexual Assault Prevention and Response) program is a vital resource to our military, the DAF (Department of the Air Force), civilians, and their family members because we are first responders in the event someone is harmed through the crime of sexual assault or sexual harassment,” said Ms. Peggy Moore-McCoy, installation SARC (Sexual Assault Response Coordinator).
Space Base Delta 2 and Space Delta 4 strive to ensure all members in the Delta are equipped with the tools necessary for success and one of those is access to SAPR resources.
“The DAF SAPR programs have implemented feedback that has been gathered over the last few years from survivors to improve quality of care and resources,” said McCoy.
The SAPR program has implemented various updates to allow members better access to the help they may need. A notable change to their policies is that when filing a restricted report, members can notify their chain of command while maintaining their restricted reporting status.
“Allowing members to maintain their restricted reporting status gives them more control over their options,” said Mrs. Christine Saona, installation SAPR Victim Advocate. “By expanding the eligibility for restricted reporting, we are empowering survivors and giving them the agency over the release of their information,” said Saona.
Another significant update surrounds the CATCH (Catch a Serial Offender) program, which has traditionally allowed sexual assault victims who filed restricted or unrestricted reports (if the suspect’s name is not known to law enforcement), the option to anonymously submit incident or suspect information to the Department of Defense (DoD) CATCH database. This program has been reformed to include a “No Report” option which outlines that a victim of sexual assault does not have to open a case with the SAPR office, but they still have the option to utilize the CATCH database.
Victim advocacy services have also been expanded to service members who are victims of sexual harassment. This service traditionally required members to report harassment through the Equal Opportunity (EO) office, but now service members have the option to file restricted or unrestricted reporting with the SAPR office.
These updates were implemented in an effort to reflect what survivors voiced they needed and since applying these changes to the SAPR program, more survivors are seeking assistance and are better equipped with resources they need when addressing their traumas.