For men and women that survived sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or rape while serving in the United States Military
Military Rape Crisis Center
info
Although improvements have been made in the civilian legal system, the military/UCMJ is decades behind. You are not legally obligated to report. The decision is entirely yours. Whether you report it or not, write down everything that you can remember so that if you do decide to file a criminal complaint later, your statement will be accurate. As you are deciding whether or not to report the crime to the authorities, here are several things to keep in mind:
Do not reveal the following information related to your mental health:
What you tell police investigators becomes part of the government's record that they must share with the defense, who will pursue it in an attempt to shift the blame of the attack onto the victim. Just stick to the immediate facts of the attack.
You will need to prepare yourself for any outcome. Rape is one of the most difficult crimes to prove. Remember that even if your case does not end in a conviction, this does not mean that the rape did not happen or that you were wrong to prosecute.
Written in parts by: Margaret , Panayiota and Melissa.
Military Rape Crisis Center
info