The Air Force has instituted avenues for reporting sexual assault and sexual harassment in the form of Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting.

Service Members are eligible to file an unrestricted or restricted report for sexual harassment.

Restricted Reports for sexual assault and sexual harassment can always be converted to an Unrestricted Report at the victim's choosing.

Restricted Reporting for sexual assault allows sexual assault victims to confidentially disclose the assault to specified individuals (i.e., SARC, SAPR VA, Chaplains or healthcare personnel), and receive medical treatment, including emergency care, counseling, and assignment of a SARC and SAPR VA, without triggering an investigation. It is intended to give the victim (survivor) time and control over the release of their information. Further, it also empowers the survivor to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process.

Restricted Reporting for sexual assault is available for:
- All Service members, DoD Civilians, and their Dependents over the age of 18.

*Expanded eligibility of Restricted Reporting for sexual assault: If the victim discloses a sexual assault to chain of command, they still have the option to file a Restricted Report with the SAPR office. Mandatory reporters are still required to report the information to law enforcement, but the victim can still receive confidential services and decline to participate in an investigation.

Unrestricted Reporting for sexual assault is any report of sexual assault made to the SAPR office when a victim chooses to participate in an investigation and have chain of command and law enforcement notified. This reporting option triggers an investigation, command notification, and allows a person who has been sexually assaulted to access medical treatment and counseling, expedited transfers and protective orders.

Unrestricted Reporting for sexual assault is available for:
- All Service members and their Dependents over the age of 18
- DoD Civilians and their Dependents over the age of 18 (MTF access and/or serving in an OS location)
- Contractors (if supporting in a contingency location outside the continental United States)

Independent Reporting is an assault reported by someone other than the victim.

The Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website serves as a great tool for those in need of additional SAPR resources. The information present can be used by commanders, leaders, and supervisors alike for not only preventing sexual assault, but responding to cases and addressing the needs of victims.
 
Click here to access material on the following: SAPR resources, shared practices, leader's toolkit, commander's guide, investigations and reports, and Air Force policies and procedures.

Sexual Assault is criminal conduct that falls well short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform and is a violation of our Air Force Core Values.

Sexual Assault is defined as intentional sexual contact characterized by use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. The term includes a broad category of sexual offenses consisting of the following specific UCMJ offenses: rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, forcible sodomy (forced oral or anal sex), or attempts to commit these offenses.

Consent is words or overt acts indicating a freely given agreement to the sexual conduct at issue by a competent person. An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent. Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the accused's use of force, threat of force, or placing another person in fear does not constitute consent. A current or previous dating relationship or the manner of dress of the person involved with the accused in the sexual conduct at issue shall not constitute consent. There is no consent where the person is sleeping or incapacitated, such as due to age, alcohol or drugs, or mental incapacity.

Sexual Harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates are available at major Department of Defense installations to assist victims and survivors of sexual assault.

The Shaw AFB SARC serves as the single point of contact for integrating and coordinating sexual assault victim care 24/7, 365 days a year. The SARC Office is also responsible for providing Sexual Assault Prevention Training throughout the installation.

To contact the Shaw AFB Sexual Assault Response Program Office, please call the Shaw AFB 24/7 SAPR Response Helpline at DSN 965-7272 or commercial 803-895-7272.