SHARP Program Services Include:
•24-hour confidential reporting
•Crisis intervention, referrals, and on-going non-clinical support
•Information on reporting options, available resources and service providers (medical, legal, and Chaplain)
•Support throughout the medical, investigative, and judicial process
•Ensuring that you are treated with fairness, and respect for your dignity and privacy
•Ensuring that you are reasonably protected, and that your rights are observed
Restricted Reporting Option- Can only be made to a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Victim Advocate (VA), or Healthcare personnel. This type of reporting will not trigger the official investigative process or notify chain of command. Available to Active Duty personnel and Family members 18 years of age and up. Civilians have only the unrestricted option. Victims can talk to chaplains, but chaplains can’t take a restricted report.
Unrestricted Reporting Option- Can be made to a SARC, VA, Military Police, Criminal Investigative Division, Healthcare personnel, Chaplains, Command, friend or roommate. This type of report will start the official investigative process and notify the chain of command.
While there is no sure way to prevent sexual assault, taking a few safety precautions can lower your risk of potentially becoming a victim:
- Trust your instincts and stay alert. If a person or place feels unsafe, it probably is.
- Don’t drink excessively, especially when you’re out with individuals you don’t know very well.
- Never leave your drink unattended, don’t accept open drinks from other people, and open containers yourself. Always have a trusted friend who is not drinking with you.
- If having a get together in your barracks or home, make sure no one stays behind “to help.” Have that last of your guests leave together.
- If your safety is at risk, call 911 and/or get to a safe place. Do whatever you have to do to keep yourself safe.
- Stay SAFE! Remember– submitting does not mean you consented.
I have been sexually assaulted. What should I do?
- Get to a safe location away from the attacker.
- Seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease
- Do not wash, comb, or clean any part of your body and do not eat, drink or change clothes.
- Contact a SARC, VA, Health care provider, or chaplain.
What are the myths associated with sexual assault?
Myth: Strangers commit most sexual assaults.
Fact: Victims usually know their assailant. In nearly 87percent of sexual assaults DoD wide, the assailant was someone the victim knew.
Myth: Rape is about sexual desire.
Fact: Sex has little to do with it. Sex becomes the weapon, thevehicle to accomplish the desired end result, which is to overwhelm, overpower,embarrass, and humiliate another person. Also, looking at typical victims showsclearly that this crime is not about sex: Children and the elderly are at highrisk of being raped because of their vulnerability. An attacker can easilyoverpower these victims.
Myth: Rapists are psychotic or mentally ill.
Fact: Less than 5% of convicted rapists are clinically diagnosedas psychotic. The media presents these cases to the public because of thebizarre nature of the rapes, but the rapist can be anyone.
Myth: Men cannot be sexually assaulted.
Fact: Men can be sexually assaulted, and they areoften assaulted by heterosexual males. Male rape occurs in the public sector,and in the Army, not just in jail. It is very rarely reported.
Myth: Rape is rare and will never happento me.
Fact: A rape occurs every 6 minutes. The FBI estimates that1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Mostrapes are not reported.
Information for Commanders
Command Policy Letter on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
Commander’s Checklist for Responding to Sexual Assaults
The SHARP program can provide training to your FRG or other groups. For more information, click here.
LOCATION: Installation SHARP Office, 1820 Corp Road, Bldg 330, Fort Johnson, La. 71459
HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630
TELEPHONE: (337) 531-4656/0587/1549
INSTALLATION 24/7 SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE: (337) 531-1848
DOD SAFE HELPINE: (877) 995-5247
Contacts
