Reporting and investigation of allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment
Policies relating to restricted and unrestricted reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment
In general
Workforce education
Relationship to the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office
To the extent consistent with preserving a victim’s complete autonomy, the policies, regulations, training, and messaging described in this subsection shall—
encourage Agency employees to make restricted or unrestricted reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment to the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office;
encourage Agency employees to use the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office as the primary point of contact and entry point for Agency employees to make restricted or unrestricted reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment;
encourage Agency employees to seek the victim advocacy services of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office after reporting an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment, to the extent consistent with the victim’s election; and
encourage Agency employees and individuals who receive disclosures of sexual assault and sexual harassment to provide the report to, and receive guidance from, the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office.
Election
Unrestricted reports
Assistance
Action required
A person electing to make an unrestricted report containing an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment shall submit the report to the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office. To the extent consistent with the person’s election after consultation with the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office, the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office may facilitate the person’s contact with any other appropriate Agency official or office, and make available to Agency employees the following:
A list of physicians and mental health care providers (including from the private sector, as applicable) who have experience with the physical and mental health care needs of the Agency workforce.
A list of chaplains and religious counselors who have experience with the needs of the Agency workforce, including information regarding access to the Chaplain Corps established under section 3527 of this title.
Information regarding how to select and retain private attorneys who have experience with the legal needs of the Agency workforce, including detailed information on the process for the appropriate sharing of information with retained private attorneys.
Rule of construction
Restricted reports
Process for making reports
Action required
A restricted report containing an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment—
shall be treated by the person who receives the report in the same manner as a communication covered by the privilege set forth in this section;
shall not result in a referral to law enforcement or commencement of a formal administrative investigation, unless the victim elects to change the report from a restricted report to an unrestricted report;
in a case requiring an employee reassignment, relocation, or other mitigation or protective measures, shall result only in actions that are managed in a manner to limit, to the extent possible, the disclosure of any information contained in the report;
shall be exempt from any Federal or, to the maximum extent permitted by the Constitution, State reporting requirements, including the requirements under section 535(b) of title 28, section 3517(b)(5) of this title, relevant provisions of Executive Order 12333 (50 U.S.C. 3001 note; relating to United States intelligence activities), or successor order, Executive Order 13462 (50 U.S.C. 3001 note; relating to President’s intelligence advisory board and intelligence oversight board), or successor order, title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.), title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.), and sections 791 and 794a of title 29, except when reporting is necessary to prevent or mitigate an imminent threat of serious bodily harm.
Rule of construction
Privileged communications with Agency employees
In general
When a communication is confidential
Maintenance of privilege
Exceptions
The privilege shall not apply to prevent limited disclosures necessary under the following circumstances:
When the victim is deceased.
When the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office employee who received the communication has a reasonable belief that a victim’s mental or emotional condition makes the victim a danger to any person, including the victim.
When the otherwise privileged communication clearly contemplates the future commission of a crime or breach of national security, or aiding any individual to commit or plan to commit what the victim knew or reasonable should have known to be a crime or breach of national security.
When disclosure of a communication is constitutionally required.
Handling of exceptions
Incident reports when victim or alleged perpetrator is an Agency employee
Incident reporting policy
The Director shall establish and maintain a policy under which—
the head of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office is required to submit a written incident report not later than 8 days after receiving an unrestricted report containing an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment; and
each such incident report required under subparagraph (A) shall be provided to—
the Director of the Agency;
the Chief Operating Officer of the Agency;
the Special Victim Investigator; and
such other individuals as the Director determines appropriate.
Purpose
The purpose of an incident report required under paragraph (1) is—
to record the details about actions taken or in progress to provide the necessary care and support to the victim of the alleged incident;
to document the referral of the allegations to the appropriate investigatory or law enforcement agency; and
to provide initial formal notification of the alleged incident.
Elements
Each incident report required under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:
The time, date, and location of the alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment.
An identification of the type of offense or harassment alleged.
An identification of the assigned office and location of the victim.
An identification of the assigned office and location of the alleged perpetrator, including information regarding whether the alleged perpetrator has been temporarily transferred or removed from an assignment or otherwise restricted, if applicable.
A description of any post-incident actions taken in connection with the incident, including—
referral to any services available to victims, including the date of each referral;
notification of the incident to appropriate investigatory organizations, including the organizations notified and dates of notifications; and
issuance of any personal protection orders or steps taken to separate the victim and the alleged perpetrator within their place of employment.
Such other elements as the Director determines appropriate.
Common perpetrator notice requirement
Unrestricted reports
Upon receipt of an incident report under subsection (f)(1) containing an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment against an individual known to be the subject of at least one allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment by another reporter, the Special Victim Investigator shall notify each of the following of all existing allegations against the individual:
The Director of the Agency.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Agency.
The Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office.
If the individual is an Agency employee, the head of the directorate employing the individual and the first-level supervisor of the individual.
If the individual is an Agency contractor, the Acquisition Group Chief and the contracting officer for the relevant contract. For industrial contractor personnel, the contracting officer shall notify the contractually identified representative for the prime contractor.
The Inspector General of the Agency.
Such other individuals as the Director determines appropriate.
Restricted reports
Applicability
The policies developed pursuant to this section shall apply to each of the following:
Any employee of the Agency.
Any person other than an Agency employee who alleges they were sexually assaulted or harassed at a facility associated with the Agency or during the performance of a function associated with the Agency.
Records
In general
Relation to privilege
Applicability to FOIA
Relationship to the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
Definitions
In this section:
Report
The term “report” means a communication—
by a victim;
that describes information relating to an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment;
to an individual eligible to document an unrestricted or restricted report; and
that the victim intends to result in formal documentation of an unrestricted or restricted report.