DOD considers expanding sexual assault tracking

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DOD considers expanding sexual assault tracking
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, January 2, 2010

The Defense Department could start tracking sexual assault cases among civilians and contractors downrange if the Pentagon follows the recommendation of an inspector general’s report due out early this year.

The DOD’s current database tracking sexual assaults only follows cases involving servicemembers; assaults involving only contract workers downrange are not included in DOD statistics.

This may soon change.

The Pentagon’s Inspector General is finishing a two-year evaluation of how the military responds to sexual assaults in combat areas.

“They actually looked at the issue of expanding our policy to contractors and civilians, especially in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Dr. Kaye Whitley, director of the DOD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting office. “I have had a pre-brief from that report, and it appears that is going to be a recommendation.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66984