§ 114.1 - Purpose.

§ 114.1 Purpose.

This part:

(a) Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures to assist victims and witnesses of alleged crimes committed in violation of 10 U.S.C. chapter 47, also known and referred to in this part as the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

(b) Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for:

(1) The rights of crime victims under the UCMJ and required mechanisms for enforcement, in accordance with section 1701 of Public Law 113-66, “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014,” and in accordance with DoD standards for victim witness assistance services in the military community established in DoD Instruction 6400.07, “Standards for Victim Assistance Services in the Military Community,” (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/640007p.pdf?ver=2018-07-06-073608-400).

(2) Providing timely notification of information and assistance available to victims and witnesses of crime from initial contact through investigation, prosecution, and confinement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1512 through 1514, 32 CFR part 286, “DoD Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program,” 32 CFR part 111, “Transitional Compensation for Abused Dependents,” DoD Instruction 1325.07, “Administration of Military Correctional Facilities and Clemency and Parole Authority,” (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/132507p.pdf?ver=2019-02-19-075650-100), DoD Directive 7050.06, “Military Whistleblower Protection,” (available at http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/705006p.pdf), and 10 U.S.C. 113, 1034, 1059, and 1408; and section 1706 of Public Law 113-66.

(3) Annual reporting requirements on assistance provided across the DoD to victims and witnesses of alleged crimes.

(c) Provides for legal assistance for crime victims entitled to such services pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1044 and 1044e, and in accordance with Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) Memorandum, “Legal Assistance for Victims of Crimes” (available at http://www.sapr.mil/public/docs/directives/Legal__Assistance__for__Victims__of__Crime-Memo.pdf), and 10 U.S.C. 1565b, and as further prescribed by the Military Departments and National Guard Bureau policies.

(d) Adopts section 573 of Public Law 112-239, “The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013,” January 2, 2013, requiring each Military Service to establish a special victim capability comprised of specially trained criminal investigators, judge advocates, paralegals, and victim and witness assistance personnel to support victims of covered special victim offenses. To de-conflict with victims' counsel programs, this distinct group of recognizable professionals will be referred to, at the DoD level, as the Special Victim Investigation and Prosecution (SVIP) capability.

(e) Adopts the victim and witness portion of the special victim capability in accordance with) DoDI 5505.19, “Establishment of Special Victim Investigation and Prosecution (SVIP) Capability within the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIOs),” March 23, 2017 (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/550519p.pdf?ver=2019-08-12-152401-387), and Directive-type Memorandum (DTM) 14-003, “DoD Implementation of Special Victim Capability (SVC) Prosecution and Legal Support,” February 12, 2014, Incorporating Change 6, August 15, 2019 (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dtm/DTM-14-003.pdf?ver=2019-08-15-102432-590).

(f) Adopts section 1716 of Public Law 113-66, and section 533 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015 (NDAA 2015), requiring the Military Services to provide legal counsel, known as Special Victims' Counsel or Victims' Legal Counsel, (SVC/VLC) to assist victims of alleged sex-related offenses in violation of Articles 120, 120a, 120b, 120c, 125 (before January 1, 2019) of the UCMJ, and attempts to commit any of these offenses under Article 80 of the UCMJ, who are eligible for legal assistance in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1044 and 1044e, and as further prescribed by the Military Departments and National Guard Bureau policies.