Boxer, Collins Introduce Legislation to Improve Training for Military Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners

Press Release

Bipartisan Bill Would Ensure that Victims Have Access to Skilled Medical Providers, Increasing the Chances of Prosecuting Sex Offenders

U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the Military SAFE Standards Act, legislation to help survivors of military sexual assault get the justice they deserve by requiring the Department of Defense to standardize eligibility, assignment, training and certification requirements for sexual assault forensic examiners across all services.

"Ensuring that survivors of military sexual assault have access to trained forensic examiners is critical to bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice," Senator Boxer said. "This bipartisan bill will expand access to these medical experts and improve training so that forensic examiners from every branch of the military meet the highest standards."

Senator Collins said, "How can the military fully address the crisis of sexual assault within its ranks if it does not have the appropriate personnel to accurately identify such incidents in the first place? Those who treat survivors of sexual assault should have the requisite medical training, and the military should bring its procedures into line with current medical standards. Our bill would accomplish that goal."

In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, victims are encouraged to visit a health facility to obtain a forensic exam--better known as a rape kit--which preserves DNA and other physical evidence that can be used to prosecute sex offenders. Due to the lengthy and complex nature of these exams, medical professionals must go through specialized training in order to become forensic examiners. However, the Defense Department has not standardized this training across all military services.

The need for legislative action to address this issue is underscored by the jarring disparities in training standards between services. The Army and Air Force, for example, require their examiners to complete 40 hours of course work and receive hands-on clinical experience in order to become forensic examiners while the Navy only requires their examiners to view a 14.5 hour DVD. Moreover, Navy medical providers told the Government Accountability Office that in the event a ship is not staffed by a trained forensic examiner and a sexual assault victim cannot be transferred to the nearest trained provider, Navy medical providers would "do their best to conduct the forensic examination using the instructions provided with the examination kits."

The Boxer-Collins bill will ensure that every victim of military sexual assault has access to highly-trained forensic examiners wherever they are located.

Specifically, the bill:

- Outlines specific providers who are eligible to be assigned to duty as a sexual assault forensic examiner.
- Requires the assignment of at least one trained sexual assault forensic examiner at military medical treatment facilities, whether in the United States or overseas. In situations where this is not feasible, requires agreements with local accredited facilities with appropriate resources to provide such examinations.
- Requires the assignment of at least one trained sexual assault forensic examiner on all Navy vessels.
- Requires training and certification programs for sexual assault forensic examiners to be standardized across all military services and to incorporate and reflect best practices and standards.
- Expresses the Sense of Congress that each sexual assault forensic examiner who successfully completes all training requirements should also obtain a sexual assault forensic examination certification within five years.
- Repeals problematic language enacted in the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act regarding training and availability of sexual assault forensic nurses.

The legislation has been endorsed by 20 national nursing organizations.

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