Question

In an unrestricted case, the healthcare provider must package, seal, and label the evidence container(s) with the victim's name and notify the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIO). MCIO special agents will receive forensic evidence from the healthcare provider if not already in custody, and label and store such evidence per BUMEDINST 6310.11A and DoD Instruction 5505.18. The Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC), deployed resiliency counselor, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA), or unit SAPR VA will advise the victim that evidence will be stored for how many years starting from the date the sexual assault investigation is closed in an unrestricted report of the sexual assault?

1) 1 year
2) 2 years
3) 3 years
4) 4 years

Answer 1

For unrestricted reports of sexual assault in the military, evidence is stored for five years from the date the investigation is closed, as per DoD and BUMED instruction.

Step-by-step explanation:

In cases of unrestricted reports of sexual assault in the military, the evidence must be stored and preserved even after the investigation is closed. According to Department of Defense Instruction 5505.18 and BUMEDINST 6310.11A, the storing timeframe for evidence relating to a sexual assault investigation is a specific period. The Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIO) are responsible for receiving forensic evidence from healthcare providers, properly labeling it, and ensuring that it is stored per the outlined instructions.

In the context of an unrestricted report of sexual assault, the evidence is to be kept for a duration of five years from the date the investigation is officially closed. This stipulation is important for the victim to understand, as outlined by their right to be informed by the Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC), resiliency counselor, or Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA).