Restricted Reporting Forensic Evidence Submission Protocol
This MARADMIN establishes the protocol for handling forensic evidence collected during Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE) under restricted reporting procedures. It outlines the responsibilities of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Healthcare Providers (HCPs) for tracking, labeling, and submitting Sexual Assault Examination (SAE) kits to the NCIS Consolidated Evidence Facility in Norfolk, VA, ensuring victims can receive medical care without triggering a formal investigation.
Issued: December 21, 2005
1. REF A REQUIRED THE SERVICES TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO ALLOW MILITARY VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT TO UNDERGO A SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATION (SAFE) WITHOUT INITIATING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. UNDER RESTRICTED REPORTING, ALL FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTED AS A RESULT OF A SAFE, TO INCLUDE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION (SAE) KIT, WILL BE LABELED AND TRACKED FOLLOWING THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF B. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL FORM AND REF B ARE LOCATED ON SAPR WEBSITE AT WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SAPRO. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL FORM WILL BE USED IN EVERY CASE. THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR (SARC) SHALL ASSIGN THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL TRACKING NUMBER AND THE RESTRICTED REPORTING CASE NUMBER (RRCN). 2. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL TRACKING NUMBER SHALL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING: FORENSIC EXAMINATION DATE, SERVICE AFFILIATION (M), NCIS INSTALLATION CODE (MWPE), SARC THREE LETTER INITIALS (SRC), SEQUENTIAL TOTAL OF CASES SUBMITTED FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR (2), AND RRCN (A1234). EXAMPLE: 04AUG05MMWPESRC2(A1234). IF A SARC HAS ONLY TWO INITIALS IN THEIR NAME, THE LETTER (N) WILL BE USED AS THE MIDDLE INITIAL TO INDICATE NO MIDDLE NAME (E.G. RNT). THE RRCN SHALL HAVE THE FIRST LETTER OF THE VICTIM'S LAST NAME ALONG WITH THE LAST FOUR OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (E.G. A1234). THE NCIS INSTALLATION CODES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE SAPR WEBSITE OR THROUGH THE LOCAL NCIS FIELD OFFICE. 3. PER REF B, THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER (HCP) SHALL MAIL THE SAE KIT VIA REGISTERED MAIL WITHIN 48 HOURS FROM THE SAFE COMPLETION TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE CONSOLIDATED EVIDENCE FACILITY RESTRICTED REPORTING 9079 HAMPTON BLVD. SUITE 110 NORFOLK, VA 23505-1098 4. THE HCP SHALL PROVIDE THE SARC WITH THE SAE KIT POSTAL TRACKING NUMBER ALONG WITH THE DATE MAILED. THE SARC SHALL NOTIFY VIA EMAIL THE NCIS REGIONAL FORENSIC LABORTORY OF THE SAE KIT MAILING DATE. THE SARC SHALL DOCUMENT THE SAE KIT POSTAL TRACKING NUMBER AND THE DATE MAILED WITHIN THE RRCN LOGBOOK. NCIS REGIONAL FORENSIC LABORTORY EMAIL ADDRESS IS LOCATED ON THE SAPR WEBSITE. 5. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL RESPONSIBILITIES SHALL ONLY BE PERFORMED BY THE COMMAND SARC. WHERE A UNIT SARC HAS BEEN APPOINTED AT THE BATTALION OR SQUADRON LEVEL, THE RESPONSIBILITIES LISTED IN THIS MARADMIN DO NOT APPLY. 6. FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE MEDICAL ROLE AND PROCEDURES IN THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SUBMISSION PROTOCOL IS PROVIDED IN REF C, ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE SAPR WEBSITE.