A bill to improve and enhance the capabilities of the Department of Defense to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

This bill, introduced in 2010, aims to strengthen the Department of Defense’s ability to handle sexual assault cases within the military by increasing professional oversight and legal protections for victims. It would allow service members to report assaults confidentially to military lawyers and establishes a legal privilege to ensure that conversations between victims and their advocates remain private during military proceedings.

Additionally, the legislation requires that key support roles, such as Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates, be filled by full-time military or civilian personnel rather than outside contractors. By standardizing training across all branches of the Armed Forces and elevating the leadership of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, the bill seeks to create a more consistent and accountable system for preventing and responding to sexual violence in the military.