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, Family members 18 years of age and older and DoD Civilians. Victims can talk to chaplains, but chaplains cannot take a restricted report of sexual assault.
Unrestricted Reporting Option- Allows individuals to access services and hold offenders accountable. It WILL trigger law enforcement and command involvement. An unrestricted report of sexual assault can be made to a SHARP SARC or VA, directly to Law enforcement or the Command or a Chaplain. Disclosing to a Chaplain is not the same as reporting to a SHARP professional, law enforcement or the Command due to confidentiality.
A culture of prevention refers to the organization’s readiness to address harmful behaviors through a preventive rather than reactive approach. Leaders can promote a culture of prevention by fostering a community of practice that encourages healthy habits, empathy, communication, and help-seeking; and cultivating the values of connectedness, dignity, and respect while enhancing access, rights, and engagement. Risk Reduction Efforts. The following are some actions you can take to prevent sexual harassment or sexual assault from occurring:
• Communicate and respect boundaries.
• Consent is verbal, freely given and can be revoked.
• Silence is not consent
• If you see something appropriate, step up and intervene.
• Do what you can to safeguard each other.
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: (726) 780-1456
INSTALLATION 24/7 SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE: (337) 718-7272
DOD SAFE HELPINE: (877) 995-5247
CDR Pkg for Unrestricted Reporting
Commanders' Responsibility Snapshot
DD 2873 Military Protective Order
Contacts
