You are given two reports by the government agency.  

Report 1:
DOJ and its components, as well as the judiciary, play important roles in requesting and collecting restitution. DOJ and select components: Prosecutors in DOJ’s Criminal Division and the Criminal Divisions of the 94 USAOs are responsible for overseeing criminal matters, including identifying and notifying victims, determining their losses as part of a case investigation, prosecuting cases and negotiating the terms of plea agreements, of which restitution may be a part. Within DOJ’s Criminal Division, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section manages DOJ’s Asset Forfeiture Program. As previously stated, FLUs within each USAO undertake activities to collect restitution from offenders in their district. Additionally, all USAOs have asset forfeiture staff responsible for forfeiting property seized by law enforcement agencies because the property was used in criminal activities or purchased with the proceeds of criminal activities. According to EOUSA guidance, coordination between the FLU and Asset Forfeiture units is highly encouraged to use forfeited assets as a means to collect on unpaid restitution debts. DOJ requires each USAO to have its own policies and procedures related to debt collection efforts but allows them discretion in developing these policies and procedures to ensure that they are appropriate for local conditions. DOJ also requires USAOs to have policies and procedures to make early, effective, and coordinated asset investigations and recovery a routine part of every case involving victims but allows USAOs to specify these policies and procedures. DOJ’s EOUSA provides USAOs with management assistance, guidance, training, and administrative support. Among other activities, EOUSA provides management assistance to USAOs by administering internal evaluations for each USAO, which are intended to provide on-site management support for that office. Further, EOUSA provides guidance to enhance offices’ efforts to request and collect restitution. Judiciary: Within the judiciary, the 94 federal district courts order restitution, receipt restitution payments, and disburse restitution to victims. Within the federal district where the offender was convicted, a probation officer prepares the presentence investigation report (PSR) for the court, which includes information on the victim’s losses and an offender’s financial information. Probation officers may obtain this information from DOJ, which has the statutory responsibility for the enforcement and collection of criminal debt. The court uses the PSR, among other things, to determine whether to order restitution. If an offender is released to the community by the court and placed on supervision, probation officers are responsible for ensuring the offender abides by the terms of release, including paying any restitution owed to victims. The Clerk of each District Court is responsible for the receipt of restitution from offenders and for disbursing payments to victims. The Judicial Conference is the national policy-making body for the federal courts. The Conference operates through a network of committees created to address and advise courts on a wide variety of subjects such as information technology, personnel, probation and pretrial services, space and facilities, security, judicial salaries and benefits, budget, defender services, court administration, and rules of practice and procedure. The Judicial Conference has taken policy positions on restitution-related issues and has supported legislative proposals to improve the restitution process. AOUSC is the agency within the judiciary that provides a broad range of legislative, legal, financial, technology, management, administrative, and program support services to federal courts. AOUSC is responsible for carrying out Judicial Conference policies and a primary responsibility of AOUSC is to provide staff support and counsel to the Judicial Conference and its committees. USSC is an independent agency within the judiciary which, among other activities, establishes and promulgates detailed sentencing guidelines that judges are to consider in sentencing offenders convicted of federal crimes, including guidelines on when and how to order restitution. Additionally, each district court is required to submit to USSC a report of each offender’s sentence that includes, among other information, details on the offenses for which the offender was convicted; the sentence imposed on the offender; and if the judge departed from the sentencing guidelines, information on reasons why. USSC maintains a database containing sentencing data on federal offenders convicted of felonies or serious misdemeanors, analyzes it and publishes these data on an annual basis. USSC is also statutorily required to annually report to Congress its analysis of sentencing-related documents, including an accounting of districts USSC believes have not submitted appropriate information to the commission, among other things. During the course of a federal criminal investigation, federal prosecutors identify and notify victims, as well as determine their losses in conjunction with the federal agents investigating the case. If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty at trial, the prosecutor has the burden of proving the victims’ losses in court. To facilitate this, a Victim-Witness coordinator within the USAO responsible for the case provides victims the opportunity to explain their losses in detail, usually through a Victim Impact Statement. This information is then to be provided to a federal probation officer who uses it to begin a PSR. To develop the PSR, probation officers use information provided by the USAO and may contact victims and verify the loss amounts. Additionally, probation officers will investigate an offender’s economic circumstances— such as if the offender has a job, any assets or any dependents. If a judge determines that restitution is to be ordered, the judge must order restitution for the full amount of a victim’s losses for offenses without consideration of the economic circumstances of the defendant. Judges may decline to order restitution in certain instances, for example, where restitution is discretionary, or in certain cases where the number of identifiable victims makes restitution impracticable or the complexity of calculating restitution would unduly prolong the sentencing process. If the court does not order restitution, or orders only partial restitution, the judge must provide the reason, and judges usually do so in a written Statement of Reasons document. Figure 1 provides an overview of the federal restitution process. Upon imposition of a restitution debt by the court, FLU staff use two mechanisms to determine the collectability of the debt and what collection actions to take. First, FLU staff classify the debt into one of four categories to determine the extent to which the FLU will pursue enforcement actions to collect upon the debt. FLUs classify debts from a Priority Code 1 debt (indicating that FLUs will make collection of this debt the highest priority) to a Priority Code 4 debt (indicating that FLUs will make collection of this debt the lowest priority). Second, FLUs may suspend collection action on criminal debts, regardless of their categorization, under certain circumstances if they determine the debts are uncollectible. FLU staff may also determine that debts are permanently uncollectible and categorize them as Priority Code 4 debts. If a debtor does not provide payment, FLU staff then use various enforcement actions to collect the restitution debt. These can include, among other actions, filing liens against an offender’s property, coordinating with asset forfeiture staff to use forfeited assets to pay the restitution debt, and garnishing wages an offender may earn. Victims can be compensated for losses with the proceeds of forfeited assets through DOJ’s Asset Forfeiture Program and in accordance with law and regulation. Federal regulations provide that the proceeds from forfeited assets are first used to cover program costs associated with forfeiture-related activities and next to pay valid owners, lien-holders, and federal financial regulatory agencies. Forfeited assets can then be distributed to other victims of crime as compensation for their losses if their loss is a direct result of the commission of the offense underlying forfeiture or a related offense. Any remaining funds from the forfeited asset may be placed into official use, distributed to foreign governments, state or local law enforcement agencies as part of the equitable sharing program to enhance cooperation with federal investigations. When victims are eligible for compensation using forfeited assets, DOJ employs two processes: restoration and remission. The restoration process involves the USAO staff requesting funds on behalf of a victim when there is both an order of forfeiture and an order of restitution. Under the restoration process, USAO staff request DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section to use the forfeited asset to pay a restitution debt. If DOJ approves the request for restoration, the funds from the forfeited property are then transferred to the Clerk of the Court who disburses this money to the victim. The remission process requires a victim of a crime to directly petition DOJ to receive funds from the forfeited property. According to officials in DOJ’s Criminal Division, the courts may not order restitution on behalf of victims who suffered a specific actual loss as a direct result of a crime for a variety of reasons, and therefore the remission process serves as a complement to the restoration process to ensure victims are made whole. For example, these officials stated that, among other reasons, the courts may not order restitution if a defendant dies prior to sentencing or if the case is one in which a court is not required to, and does not, order restitution, but the victim has suffered eligible losses. EOUSA and USAO officials in all six of the offices with whom we spoke told us that prosecutors document requests for restitution in their case files and that their offices employ other internal controls, such as the use of templates and forms, throughout the prosecution process to ensure that prosecutors request restitution as appropriate. EOUSA officials told us that although the agency does not track this information, they believed all USAOs generally document requests for restitution in their offices’ case files. Further, USAO officials in all six offices told us that prosecutors document requests for the court to order restitution in their case files by including this information in a written memorandum. To support prosecutors in documenting this information, all six offices we selected provide prosecutors with a prosecution memorandum template. Of the six templates we reviewed, four explicitly include a section for prosecutors to indicate whether victims have been identified and the extent of any victim losses. In addition to these templates, four of six USAOs we selected had forms that prosecutors could use to identify whether cases have victims and their need for restitution when drafting criminal charging documents. Moreover, officials from two of the six USAOs told us their offices use this form as an internal control to ensure prosecutors have identified all victims and considered their need for restitution, if applicable. All six offices we selected also provided prosecutors templates for drafting plea agreements, and templates we reviewed from all six USAOs included language requesting the offender pay restitution, if applicable. However, prosecutors are not required to use plea agreement templates, nor are they required to request restitution as part of a plea agreement. USAO officials from one office stated that including this language in the plea agreement template served to remind prosecutors of their requirement to consider requesting restitution as stated in the U.S. Attorney’s Manual. Select USAO officials also described various forms of management oversight to ensure prosecutors request restitution as appropriate. Specifically, four USAOs we selected require supervisory review of the form that prosecutors fill out when drafting criminal charging documents, which includes information on victims. Additionally, officials in all six USAOs told us that they require supervisory review of plea agreements for every case. For example, officials from two USAOs told us their office requires the Criminal Chief, the supervisor of all criminal cases, to approve documents in the plea agreement, which may include requests for restitution. Federal courts sent information on sentencing decisions to USSC and USSC had information on restitution decisions for 95 percent of all offenders from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. According to our analysis of USSC data, 214,578 federal offenders were sentenced from fiscal years 2014 through 2016 and restitution was ordered for 33,158 of those offenders, or 15 percent. Collectively, courts ordered these offenders to pay $33.9 billion in restitution during this period. Courts did not order restitution for the remaining 181,420 offenders, or 85 percent. Table 1 shows the number of federal offenders sentenced and ordered to pay restitution for fiscal years 2014 through 2016, as well as the total amount of restitution ordered by the courts. The majority of federal offenders were sentenced for immigration or drug- related offenses, and USAO officials in all six offices we selected told us that these types of offenses do not typically have victims with actual losses. For example, from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, USSC data showed that 131,088 offenders, 61 percent of offenders sentenced, were sentenced for immigration or drug-related offenses and courts ordered 999 (or less than 1 percent) of these offenders to pay restitution. USSC data show that courts ordered restitution more often for offenders sentenced for other offenses, such as fraud. For example, courts sentenced 21,551 offenders for fraud offenses from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, and courts ordered restitution for 15,902 of these offenders, or 74 percent. Table 2 shows the number of offenders sentenced and the number ordered to pay restitution by offenses for which restitution was most often and least often ordered by courts from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. The percentage of federal offenders ordered to pay restitution varied across federal court districts; from 2 percent of offenders in one district to 42 percent in another district. USAO officials we interviewed stated that some of this variation may be due to the types of offenses prosecuted within different districts. For example, officials from one USAO stated that their office, which had a high volume of immigration–related offenders, had few cases in which restitution was applicable. Our analysis of USSC data showed that from fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2016 and across all districts, districts with a higher than average rate of immigration-related offenders had lower than average rates of restitution ordered. Conversely, districts with above-average rates of offenders convicted of financial offenses such as fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, tax offenses, counterfeiting or bribery had higher than average rates of restitution ordered, as shown in table 3. Judges indicated on documents sent to USSC that restitution was not applicable and thus did not order it for most offenders sentenced from fiscal years 2014 through 2016—167,230 offenders—or 78 percent of all offenders sentenced during this time period. Our analysis of sentencing information for the remaining offenders found that courts ordered restitution at a higher rate as compared to all offenders. Specifically, after excluding offenders for whom restitution was not applicable and were not ordered to pay it, we found that courts ordered restitution for 70 percent of the remaining 47,348 offenders. EOUSA and USAO officials told us that in cases where there are identifiable victims, restitution may not be ordered for other reasons. EOUSA officials told us that restitution may not be ordered for several reasons, such as when victims provide no proof of their losses or when victims recover compensation through other means, such as through civil proceedings. Further, officials from one USAO told us that victims must provide documentation of their losses for restitution and, if victims are not able to provide this documentation, courts may decline to order restitution. Also, in certain cases, courts are not required to order restitution—such as when there is no identifiable victim or, on the other hand, when the number of identifiable victims is so large as to make restitution impractical, among other reasons. Additionally, the court might not order, or order only partial restitution for other reasons, such as when the value of property the defendant returned to the victim was deducted from the restitution award or because the victim received compensation from insurance. If a court does not order restitution, or orders partial restitution, it is required to provide the reason for its decision and to provide that reason to USSC, but our analysis showed USSC did not always have these data. Specifically, from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, we found that restitution was not ordered—and no reason was documented in USSC data for that decision—for 9,848 offenders (5 percent of the 214,578 offenders sentenced during this time period). Information on offenders’ sentences, including restitution, assists USSC in its continuous reexamination of its guidelines and policy statements and ensures that various sentencing practices are achieving their stated purposes. Further, Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government state that management should evaluate issues identified through monitoring activities or reported by personnel to determine whether any of the issues rise to the level of an internal control deficiency. In response to our questions about the missing information on reasons why restitution was not ordered, AOUSC and USSC officials stated that they were unaware of the missing information or why it was missing. Judiciary officials stated that because various entities within the judiciary participate in the process of collecting and recording information on reasons restitution was not ordered, they did not know which entities could take action to improve USSC data. However, as previously discussed, if the court does not order restitution, or orders only partial restitution, the judge must provide the reason, and judges usually do so in a written Statement of Reasons form. The Judicial Conference, along with USSC, has developed guidance to help judges fill out the Statement of Reasons form and AOUSC supports the Judicial Conference in carrying out its policies. Further, courts must provide USSC the written Statement of Reasons form for sentences imposed. USSC is also responsible for collecting, analyzing, and distributing information on federal sentences provided by each district court, including information related to orders for restitution. However, judicial officials, including from the entities listed above, agreed that further studying the missing data may inform the judiciary of the cause of the missing data, as well as any efforts needed to improve USSC information. Courts are required to provide reasons for not ordering restitution and to provide this information to USSC so that the agency can analyze and report on sentencing data. Determining why USSC data are incomplete could help inform the judiciary whether the issue rises to the level of an internal control deficiency and whether additional action can be taken to improve the transparency of sentencing decisions. Doing so could help the judiciary ensure reasons for not ordering restitution are provided consistently in all cases and potentially improve data provided to USSC, in turn supporting its mission to promote transparency in sentencing decisions. Our analysis of DOJ data showed that DOJ collected $2.95 billion in restitution debt from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, half of which was collected on debts imposed during this period. The extent of collections across the 94 USAOs ranged from a high of $848 million in one USAO to a low of $1.2 million in another USAO. The median amount collected for USAOs was $10.7 million. DOJ was more successful at collecting restitution on newer debts—debts imposed from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. Of the $2.95 billion in restitution debt collected, about half was collected from new debts imposed by courts during this time period. Specifically, DOJ collected $1.5 billion (4 percent), of the $34 billion ordered from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. The remaining half of the debt collected during this time frame was collected from debts imposed between fiscal year 1988 and fiscal year 2014. New debts—imposed in fiscal years 2014 through 2016—were also more likely to be fully paid during this time period compared to all debts. Specifically, from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, DOJ collected the full amount of restitution on 4,003 of the 24,950 debts imposed during this time, 16 percent. However, across all debts, including debts imposed prior to fiscal year 2014, DOJ collected the full amount of restitution ordered on only 5 percent of debts. Across all restitution debts, DOJ collected at least some of the debt for one-third of debts and did not collect any restitution on the remaining two-thirds. More than 60 percent of the restitution DOJ collected in fiscal years 2014 through 2016 was owed to non-federal victims ($1.8 billion), including individuals, corporations and state and local governments. An additional 37 percent of restitution was collected on behalf of federal agencies that were victims of crimes. One percent of restitution collected was community restitution, which is restitution collected for drug offenses that otherwise have no victims and which is disbursed to state victim assistance agencies and state agencies dedicated to the reduction of substance abuse, as shown in table 4. AOUSC officials noted that some collected restitution is not disbursed to non-federal victims due to a lack of accurate contact information for these victims. Specifically, according to AOUSC, as of June 2017, courts had more than $132 million in restitution due to 113,260 victims that could not be disbursed because of a lack of accurate contact information for these victims. DOJ is required to provide courts with victim contact information, and victims are to notify DOJ if their contact information changes. However, AOUSC and USAO officials told us that this notification by victims may not always occur. For example, officials in one USAO told us that due to the length of court proceedings, victims may move without notifying the court prior to the disbursement of restitution and, as a result, the court is unable to disburse restitution to those victims. According to our analysis of DOJ data, at the end of fiscal year 2016, $110 billion in restitution was outstanding and USAOs had identified $100 billion of that debt as uncollectible, as shown in figure 2. USAOs may identify debts as uncollectible and suspend collection actions on a debt for a variety of reasons, including that the offender has no, or only a nominal, ability to pay the debt. Probation officials, EOUSA officials, and officials from five of six USAOs we interviewed stated that most outstanding restitution debt is identified as uncollectible and collection action is suspended because many offenders have little ability to pay the debt—a conclusion supported by USSC data. For example, according to USSC data, 95 percent of offenders ordered to pay restitution from fiscal years 2014 through 2016 received a waiver from paying a court-ordered fine, indicating their inability to pay. While courts are allowed to take an offender’s economic circumstances into consideration when issuing fines, they generally may not do so when ordering restitution. As a result, EOUSA and federal probation officials with whom we spoke stated that offenders ordered to pay restitution often do not have an ability to do so and therefore a large amount of restitution orders is uncollectible. Through various guidance documents, DOJ has identified and recommended numerous practices for DOJ prosecutors and FLU staff to use throughout the restitution process to help ensure full and timely restitution for victims. USAO officials in all six offices with whom we spoke stated that, based on their experience, these practices were generally effective. Specifically, DOJ and EOUSA officials identified practices for prosecutors and FLU staff to use when requesting restitution, facilitating court orders for restitution, and collecting restitution and documented these practices in several guidance manuals. Officials we interviewed from all six USAOs stated they were generally satisfied with the guidance from EOUSA and that they thought most of DOJ’s recommended practices were effective when requesting restitution, facilitating court orders for restitution, and collecting restitution. Requesting restitution. Officials we interviewed from three USAOs identified coordination between prosecutors and case investigators prior to sentencing to identify victims and their losses as an important practice for requesting restitution. USAO officials from three of the six offices stated that gathering detailed information on an offender’s financial resources, which include assets that could be forfeited and used to pay a restitution debt, was a very effective practice related to requesting restitution. Facilitating court orders of restitution. Although the courts, and not prosecutors, are responsible for ordering restitution, DOJ guidance identifies several practices that prosecutors can use to facilitate orders of restitution that may increase the likelihood of full and timely restitution for victims. Officials from three of six USAOs stated that the most effective practice related to ordering restitution was ensuring courts ordered restitution as due and payable immediately. Specifically, when offenders cannot pay restitution in an immediate lump-sum payment, the courts must specify a payment schedule through which the offender will pay restitution based on the offender’s ability to pay. In these cases, USAO officials stated that it is effective for prosecutors to ensure the restitution order specifies that restitution is due and payable immediately. According to an EOUSA official, this permits the agency to immediately pursue all collection remedies allowed by law whenever the debtor has or subsequently obtains the ability to pay. Collecting restitution. Officials from all six USAOs stated that using the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), a program that allows for the reduction or withholding of a debtor’s federal benefits, such as a tax refund, was one of the most effective practices for collecting restitution. Specifically, officials in one USAO told us that TOP requires minimal effort for FLU staff and can result in a high amount of collections. As an example, officials from two USAOs told us their respective offices each recovered more than $500,000 dollars in restitution debt in fiscal year 2016 through TOP. Officials from three of the six offices also identified using wage garnishment as an effective practice for collecting restitution. Across all parts of the restitution process, USAO officials we spoke with also consistently identified DOJ recommended practices related to internal and external communication and collaboration as effective for improving the restitution process. Specifically, the officials identified collaboration between various units in the USAO as an effective practice to ensuring restitution for victims. For example, USAO officials in two of the six offices highlighted coordination between Victim-Witness coordinators and prosecutors to help identify victims and quantify their losses as effective to assisting in the request for restitution. Additionally, USAO officials in all six offices stated that strong coordination between FLU personnel and criminal prosecutors to identify an offender’s financial resources and available assets was an effective practice to help ensure FLU staff could collect restitution using those resources or assets. USAO officials from five of six offices identified external communication between FLU and the federal probation office as an effective practice. Specifically, officials from these USAOs stated that FLUs coordinating with probation officers during the offender’s supervision period to enforce restitution terms was an effective practice for collecting restitution. Additionally, according to EOUSA guidance, FLU staff can use outreach and training with other partners such as the probation office to facilitate information sharing on restitution collection issues and officials from five of six USAOs told us that FLUs conducting training and outreach is a very effective practice. In addition, probation officials we interviewed in each of the six federal judicial districts we selected stated that ongoing communication between USAO staff and probation officers is effective to ensuring victims are identified and receive full and timely restitution. Probation officials from one court district emphasized the importance of a good working relationship with the USAO, stating that the probation office and USAO are better able to ensure victims and their losses are accurately identified and defendants’ ability to pay is adequately addressed when working collaboratively. A probation official from another office said that probation officers regularly coordinated with the USAO’s FLU, and this coordination was particularly important on cases involving complex financial crimes, where the offender has a complicated financial portfolio. Further, probation officials from five of six probation offices also stated that attending training conducted by the FLU is a very effective practice. EOUSA and selected USAO officials told us that while these practices may be useful in some circumstances, they may not be effective or applicable in all cases or in all districts. Specifically, practices DOJ recommends may be effective when offenders have the ability to pay restitution but are simply unwilling to do so; however, USAO officials in five of six offices stated that these practices cannot mitigate the fact that many offenders lack the ability to pay restitution because they lack assets and income. Additionally, while EOUSA guidance recommends that FLU staff contact co-defendants or victims for information on the whereabouts or assets of offenders who owe restitution, officials from three USAOs told us this was not effective. According to one official, although co- defendants are sometimes eager to share information, the information is usually unreliable. USAO officials also identified some recommended practices as not applicable to their district. For example, EOUSA recommends that FLU units request Asset Investigation assistance from EOUSA for complex cases involving large amounts of valuable assets. However, USAO officials in a small, rural district with whom we spoke stated that the types of cases their office prosecutes tend not to be the type of financial cases that warranted use of this resource. DOJ has identified improving debt collection—including court-ordered restitution—as a major management initiative in its 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. However, it does not have any measures or goals in place to assess its performance in meeting this initiative or meet requirements that it evaluate its performance in seeking and recovering restitution as required by statute. In 2001, we recommended that DOJ adequately measure its criminal debt collection performance against established goals to help improve collections and stem the growth in uncollected criminal debt. DOJ concurred with this recommendation, and as of fiscal year 2003, annually assessed each district based on established collection goals for that district. However, as of September 2017, DOJ no longer evaluates each district based on established goals. EOUSA officials stated that DOJ no longer uses these performance goals and that the agency did not maintain records for when or why it stopped. EOUSA officials stated that while the agency does not have any measures or goals to assess USAOs’ performance in improving debt collection, including the collection of federal restitution, they are working with DOJ’s Justice Management Division to develop a suite of analytical tools to monitor the collection of debt across all offices. According to DOJ, some of these analytical tools have been implemented and additional tools will be implemented by March 2018. EOUSA officials stated that these tools will help the agency determine which cases are most likely to result in significant collections and the types and timing of enforcement actions that generate maximum debt recovery results. EOUSA officials further stated the analytical tools will allow the agency to compare districts’ efforts based on a variety of factors (e.g., caseload, staff size, and enforcement actions). These analytical tools may provide EOUSA with valuable insight into the present condition of the collection of restitution across USAOs, but they will not provide DOJ with a baseline performance standard that could be used to indicate if USAOs’ efforts to collect restitution debts are having a measurable impact in meeting DOJ’s objective of improving debt collection. Additionally, EOUSA conducts evaluations of each USAO every 4 years, which include a review of FLU operations, but EOUSA officials stated that these reviews do not include oversight of the collection of restitution. Among other aspects of USAO operations, these internal evaluations review the extent to which each FLU is complying with statutory and DOJ requirements related to debt collection, has sufficient program resources, and adequately manages its caseload. However, DOJ and EOUSA officials told us that it did not plan to use these internal evaluations to meet the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 requirement to evaluate each USAO on its performance in seeking and recovering restitution for victims. Specifically, the officials stated that these internal evaluations are not an appropriate mechanism to meet the law’s requirements because the internal evaluations do not specifically review the seeking and recovery of restitution for victims. According to DOJ officials responsible for the internal evaluation program, these evaluations are largely intended to provide onsite management assistance and analysis of how the USAO allocates its administrative and legal personnel resources rather than the office’s efficacy in collecting restitution. Consistent with requirements outlined in the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRAMA), performance measurement is the ongoing monitoring and reporting of program accomplishments—particularly towards pre-established, objective and quantifiable goals—and agencies are to establish performance measures to assess progress towards those goals. While GPRAMA is applicable to the department or agency level, performance measures and goals are important management tools at all levels of an agency, including the program, project, or activity level. Agencies can use performance measurement to make various types of management decisions to improve programs and results, such as developing strategies and allocating resources, including identifying problems and taking corrective action when appropriate. Further, the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 requires DOJ to evaluate each USAO in its performance in recovering restitution for victims. DOJ and EOUSA officials told us that DOJ does not require USAOs to establish performance measures or goals to assess their progress in improving the collection of restitution. DOJ and EOUSA officials also told us that each USAO could develop performance goals but that they were unaware of the extent to which USAOs did so, and further, they do not track the extent to which USAOs met performance goals. Additionally, these officials stated that because each USAO faces different constraints in its ability to collect restitution, establishing a uniform and consistent performance measure and goal would be challenging. EOUSA officials noted that some USAOs may have more resources, such as more FLU staff or specialized asset investigators, available to pursue collections as compared to other offices and therefore offices with fewer resources could have difficulty meeting a performance goal. Further, EOUSA and USAO officials stated that the extent to which DOJ can collect on a debt is heavily influenced by factors outside of the agency’s control, such as an offender’s ability to pay. USAOs could use information provided by performance measures and goals—such as an office’s ability to meet a performance goal—to make managerial decisions to help address these constraints, such as by increasing the allocation of staff resources. Further, to avoid comparing USAOs to a nationally set performance goal that does not account for specific constraints faced by each office, DOJ could—as it did in fiscal year 2003—require each USAO to establish its own objective, quantitative collection goals based on historical, district-specific collection statistics. Finally, as previously discussed, each USAO already accounts for external factors that affect the collectability of a debt, such as an offender’s ability to pay, by suspending collection action on debts it identifies as uncollectible. Therefore, any performance measures and goals developed could be based solely on debts that the USAO already has determined to be collectible. Stakeholders we interviewed—including officials from one USAO, probation officials in two districts, and officials with DOJ’s Office of Crime Victims—noted that receiving restitution is both emotionally and financially important to victims. Specifically, officials from one USAO and one probation office noted that while many victims may never receive the full amount of restitution ordered, receiving even a minimal amount of restitution is a symbolic victory and that it is important for victims to know the government is making efforts to collect restitution on their behalf. The legislative history of the MVRA echoes these sentiments, providing that even nominal restitution payments have benefits for the victim of crime, and that orders of restitution are largely worthless without enforcement. Yet, according to our analysis, $10 billion of restitution debt DOJ identified as collectible remained outstanding at the end of fiscal year 2016. Further, the extent to which USAOs collected restitution varied widely— from a high of one USAO district collecting nearly 350 percent of all collectible debt in fiscal years 2014 through 2016 to a low of one district collecting less than one percent of collectible debt in the same period. Without performance measures, including the establishment of goals, DOJ cannot assess if this variation is due to factors outside the control of USAOs or due to management deficiencies that require corrective action. Developing performance measures and goals for each USAO related to the collection of restitution would allow DOJ to assess its progress in achieving its major management initiative in improving debt collection— including debts owed to victims as court-ordered restitution. Doing so would also better position DOJ to meet the requirements of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 to evaluate offices in their performance in recovering restitution on behalf of victims and to use performance information to improve the practices of offices as needed. Although asset forfeiture and restitution are separate parts of a criminal sentence, DOJ guidance states that using forfeited assets to benefit victims is a way that DOJ can help ensure eligible victims of crime are compensated for their losses. Further, DOJ regulations and policy require that eligible victims receive compensation from forfeited assets before certain other uses, such as official use or equitable sharing. However, while DOJ tracks the amount of compensation provided to victims through forfeited assets, it does not have assurances that forfeited assets are being used to compensate victims to the greatest extent possible. According to DOJ information, the agency made payments of about $595 million to eligible victims other than owners of the property from the Assets Forfeiture Fund from fiscal years 2014 through 2016, or 15 percent of $3.9 billion in paid expenditures during this period, as shown in table 5. As table 5 shows, DOJ can account for cases in which forfeited assets were used to compensate eligible victims who were not owners or lienholders. However, DOJ does not have information on the overall universe of victims who could have been eligible to receive compensation from forfeited assets. Further, it does not have insight into any reasons why funds from forfeited assets were not used for these victims. Specifically, DOJ officials stated that the department collects information on whether victims have been identified in cases associated with forfeited assets, and if restitution is anticipated in these cases, but it does not track the extent to which these victims were ultimately compensated using forfeited assets. Further, DOJ also does not collect information on reasons why victims were not compensated using funds from forfeited assets. While DOJ is required to use forfeited assets to compensate victims before using those assets for certain other purposes, the agency is unable to provide assurances that it is always doing so because it does not have information on the overall universe of victims or reasons why victims were not compensated using forfeited assets. As a result, DOJ does not have a basis to know whether the $595 million provided to victims from fiscal years 2014 through 2016 is the maximum amount of compensation the agency could have provided to victims using forfeited assets. Full use of forfeited assets for victim compensation has long been, and continues to be, a goal of DOJ. In 2005, an interagency task force—led by DOJ and including the Department of Treasury, Office of Management and Budget and AOUSC—developed a strategic plan to improve the collection of criminal debt. Among other goals included in its strategic plan, the task force stated a goal of examining how asset seizure and forfeiture procedures can be used to maximize recoveries for victims. More recently, DOJ reported in its 2014-2018 Strategic Plan that it would make every effort to recover full and fair restitution for victims using the federal forfeiture statutes to preserve and recover criminal proceeds. Specifically, DOJ stated that using federal forfeiture statutes to recover full and fair restitution for victims is one part of its strategy to protect the rights of the American people and enforce the rule of law. Finally, DOJ officials told us they considered providing compensation to victims as one goal of the Asset Forfeiture Program and EOUSA stated in guidance that asset forfeiture is the most widely available and effective tool to seize assets for restitution purposes. Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government call on federal managers to design control activities to achieve the agency’s objectives. These controls can include using quality information to make informed decisions, evaluate the entity’s performance in achieving key objectives, and address risks. DOJ officials told us that they do not track the extent to which victims were not compensated using forfeited assets because USAO staff are not required to request that these assets be used for victim compensation. DOJ officials explained that staff are required to indicate in the agency’s forfeited asset database, the Consolidated Asset Tracking System, if victims exist in cases associated with forfeited assets and if restitution is anticipated in these cases. However, these officials stated that staff are not required to then compensate these victims using the forfeited assets or to indicate why these assets were not used for this purpose. DOJ officials told us that decisions to compensate victims using forfeited assets are best left to the judgment of the USAO staff familiar with the case, such as the prosecuting attorney or asset forfeiture staff. DOJ officials pointed to informal communication and coordination among prosecutors, the FLU, and the Asset Forfeiture unit in each USAO as a means to provide compensation to victims as appropriate. However, communication and coordination among these groups has been a challenge for USAOs, as the DOJ Inspector General found in a June 2015 review of DOJ’s debt collection program. Similarly, during our current review, EOUSA and USAO officials we spoke with identified communication and coordination as an area for improvement. EOUSA officials told us that while they thought that FLU staff and Asset Forfeiture unit staff were collaborating more frequently to use forfeited assets to collect restitution debts since the issuance of the DOJ Inspector General’s report, the extent of collaboration between these two units still varied across USAOs. Further, officials we talked to in two USAOs and one probation office noted that USAO staff could improve their use of forfeited assets for restitution payments. For example, officials in one probation office noted that it was their practice to identify forfeited assets that could be used for compensation in the PSR because they had observed that USAO staff were frequently not applying such assets to victim compensation. While DOJ may allow USAO staff to use discretion when requesting restoration or alerting victims to assets available for compensation, increasing the agency’s understanding of the extent to which assets could have been—but were not—used for victim compensation, and the reasons for those decisions, does not affect that discretion. There are legitimate reasons why victims might not be compensated using forfeited assets; for example, the assets may have other owners or lienholders that must be compensated prior to victims, or offenders may have other means by which to pay victims restitution. However, there are also instances where victims may have not received compensation through forfeited assets as a result of unintentional circumstances. For example, according to DOJ’s Asset Forfeiture Manual, forfeiture actions can proceed faster than the parallel criminal case. Consequently, assets might be equitably shared, placed into official use, or remitted to victims who file petitions long before restitution is ordered, and therefore would not be available for other victims who wait for restitution to be ordered after an offender is sentenced. To avoid this outcome, DOJ recommends that USAOs coordinate to ensure the retention of property for victim compensation. However, although DOJ officials responsible for leading DOJ’s asset forfeiture efforts highlighted the need for expedient coordination when USAO staff are considering using forfeited assets to compensate victims, they stated this may not always occur. As a result, otherwise eligible victims may not always be compensated through forfeited assets. By gathering information about the extent to which assets were used for victim compensation—including when they were not used and reasons why not—DOJ could have a better understanding of potential instances where victims could be, but are not, receiving compensation through forfeited funds and could take steps to address them accordingly. Options for gathering such information could include doing a one-time retrospective study of forfeited assets with victims or anticipated restitution to determine the extent that assets were used for victim compensation, or creating a tracking mechanism through its forfeited assets database, or another system. Gathering information on the extent to which forfeited assets were used for victim compensation, including when not used and reasons why not, could position DOJ to take action to increase the use of these assets for victim compensation if warranted. These actions could include providing funds for increased asset forfeiture staff in USAOs, providing additional training or changing policies or procedures for using forfeited assets to compensate victims. Fully and systematically understanding the extent to which issues, such as a lack of coordination within USAOs, result in victims not being compensated using forfeited assets would give DOJ a basis upon which to develop improvements to the Asset Forfeiture Program. Such information would also provide DOJ and staff at all USAOs with information to evaluate its performance in achieving one of the goals of the Asset Forfeiture Program and taking action to meet the agency goal of protecting the rights of the American people—including the right to full and fair restitution for victims. Restitution serves the criminal justice goal of holding offenders accountable and, to the extent possible, restoring victims of federal crimes to their prior position had the crime not occurred. Many victims are unlikely to receive any meaningful portion of court-ordered restitution owed to them because of offenders’ inability to pay these debts. However, the fact that restitution is difficult to collect does not negate the important responsibilities of the judiciary and DOJ to properly manage and oversee all aspects of the restitution process. By law, courts are to state why they did not order restitution and provide that information to USSC. While this information was collected and recorded in USSC data for most offenders, we found that this information was missing for thousands of offenders. It is important for the judiciary to ensure that this information is consistently collected and recorded to assist USSC in its continuous re-examination of its guidelines and policy statements and ensure that various sentencing practices are achieving their stated purposes. The judiciary could support USSC in this endeavor by determining why this information is missing. Results from this study could help inform the judiciary whether this issue rises to the level of an internal control deficiency and whether additional action can be taken to improve the transparency of sentencing decisions. While DOJ has delegated collection activities for restitution to USAOs, it could provide better oversight to ensure it is making reasonable efforts to collect restitution and meeting its responsibility to victims. USAOs have identified a significant portion of outstanding restitution debt as uncollectible, but they have also identified $10 billion of outstanding restitution debt that could be collected. Developing and implementing performance measures and goals for each USAO would allow DOJ to gauge USAOs’ success in collecting this restitution and, by extension, the department’s success in achieving its major management initiative to increase the collection of debt. Further, DOJ could use performance information to improve the practices of offices in seeking and recovering restitution, consistent with a requirement in the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016. Finally, DOJ could gain greater visibility into the use of forfeited assets to compensate victims by gathering information on cases in which victims have been identified and restitution is anticipated but forfeited assets are not used, and any reasons why. Doing so would better position DOJ to take action to increase the use of forfeited assets to compensate eligible victims if warranted and to provide assurance that it is maximizing the use of asset forfeiture in satisfying restitution debts, one of the agency’s most effective mechanisms for satisfying restitution. We are making three recommendations, including one to the judiciary and two to DOJ. Specifically: Judiciary officials, including AOUSC, USSC, and the Judicial Conference, should determine why USSC data on the reasons restitution was not ordered are incomplete. Additionally, if warranted based on this information, judiciary officials should take action to ensure USSC data records include all required information for orders of restitution. (Recommendation 1) To improve oversight of the collection of restitution we recommend that the Attorney General: Develop and implement performance measures and goals for each USAO related to the collection of restitution, and measure progress towards meeting those goals. (Recommendation 2) In cases where forfeited assets were not used to compensate victims, gather information on reasons why forfeited assets were not used for victims. If warranted based on this information, take action to increase the use of forfeited assets to compensate eligible victims. (Recommendation 3) We provided a draft of this report for review and comment to DOJ, the Judicial Conference of the United States, AOUSC, USSC, and the Federal Judicial Center. DOJ concurred with our recommendations and provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. AOUSC provided written comments, which are reproduced in appendix III. In its written comments, AOUSC noted that it would work with the USSC to address our recommendation. We are sending copies of this report to the appropriate congressional committees and the Attorney General, the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Directors of AOUSC, the Staff Director of USSC, the Federal Judicial Center and other interested parties. In addition, the report is available at no charge on the GAO website at http://www.gao.gov. If you and your staff have any questions about this report, please contact me at (202) 512-8777 or goodwing@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made key contributions are listed in appendix IV. According to our analysis of data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), 214,578 federal offenders were sentenced from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. Table 6 shows the number of offenders sentenced and the number and percentage of offenders ordered to pay restitution for each primary offense of conviction in fiscal years 2014 through 2016. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has identified and recommended numerous practices for federal prosecutors and Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) staff to use throughout the restitution process through various guidance documents. We conducted semi-structured interviews with officials from six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAO) to obtain their views on the restitution process and the extent to which they believed DOJ- recommended restitution practices related to the restitution process were effective. In particular, we spoke with USAO officials from the District of Connecticut; the Southern District of California; the District of New Jersey; the Southern District of Ohio; the District of South Dakota; and the District of Wyoming. Tables 7 through 9 show the results of our semi-structured interviews. In particular, table 7 shows practices related to requesting restitution and the extent to which USAO officials found these practices effective. Table 8 shows practices related to facilitating orders of restitution and the extent to which USAO officials found these practices effective. Table 9 shows practices related to collecting restitution and the extent to which USAO officials found these practices effective. Each table also indicates practices that officials we interviewed considered as most important or effective for helping ensure victims receive full and timely restitution. In addition to the contact named above, Chris Ferencik (Assistant Director); Kathleen Donovan (Analyst-in-Charge); Enyinnaya David Aja; David Alexander; Lacinda Ayers; Carla Brown; Emily Hutz; Janet Temko- Blinder; and Adam Vogt, made key contributions to this report.

 

 Report 2:
Beginning the summer 2013 through 2016, there were numerous reports in the media on sexual assault incidents in the U.S. armed services. In many cases, such reports were followed by questions on what actions were taken by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Obama Administration, and Congress to address the issue. This report lists a comprehensive chronology of official activities in response to incidents of military sexual assault, as well as legislative action on the issue. The report is divided into three sections: the DOD and the Obama Administration's actions, congressional action, and legislation in the 113 th (2013-2014) and 114 th (2015-2016) Congresses. Also included is a resources section with related articles, hearings, and reports. Information in this report was compiled from the official government websites of DOD, the Obama White House and Congress.gov for historical background and will not be updated. June 13, 2012 – DOD announced Army Major General Gary S. Patton as the new director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). September 25, 2012 – As part of the DOD's efforts to confront the crime of sexual assault in the military, then Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced improvements to prospective commander and senior enlisted training and a review of the initial military training environment in every service. December 21, 2012 – DOD released key findings from the Academic Program Year (APY) 2011-2012 Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the United States Military Service Academies. According to this report, the overall prevalence rate of unwanted sexual contact increased in all three military academies. From 2011 to 2012, the Air Force Academy in Colorado showed the largest increase in reported sexual assaults from 33 to 52 incidents. Sexual assaults at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, increased from 11 to 15, and were up at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY, from 10 to 13. January 18, 2013 – DOD announced the release of the 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members . This report included rates of unwanted sexual contact, unwanted gender-related behaviors (i.e., sexual harassment and sexist behavior), and gender discriminatory behaviors and sex discrimination reported by survey respondents during the past 12 months. March 7, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in a letter responding to Members of Congress, wrote that an internal review was being conducted of a decision by a senior Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, to overturn the sexual assault conviction of an Air Force fighter pilot, Lt. Col. James Wilkerson. Colonel Wilkerson was found guilty in November 2012 of aggravated sexual assault and was sentenced to one year in military prison. Lt. General Franklin's decision to overturn the findings of the court-martial freed Colonel Wilkerson, and allowed him to be reinstated in the Air Force. In his letter, Hagel said that while General Franklin's decision could not be overturned, he had asked Pentagon lawyers and the Secretary of the Air Force to review the way in which General Franklin decided the case. He also said he wanted a review of whether the military should change the way it handles sexual assault cases. April 2, 2013 – Secretary Chuck Hagel stated in a message to all DOD personnel on Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month that, "Together, we must work every day to instill a climate that does not tolerate or ignore sexist behavior, sexual harassment, or sexual assault. These have no place in the United States military and violate everything we stand for and the values we defend." April 8, 2013 – Secretary Hagel announced that DOD's Office of General Counsel will review Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) after an Air Force officer's court-martial conviction for sexual assault was dismissed using the authority provided by Article 60. May 6, 2013 – The Office of the Secretary of Defense released a 24-page memorandum from Secretary Hagel to all heads of the military services regarding DOD's 2013 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Strategy, and the release of the Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military 2012 (2 volumes). According to this report, in FY2012 (October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012), the number of sexual assaults reported by members of the military rose 6% to 3,374. An anonymous survey of military personnel showed the number of service members who had experienced unwanted sexual contact could be as many as 26,000 but most never reported the incidents. That number is an increase over the 19,000 estimated assaults in 2011. These reports involved offenses ranging from abusive sexual contact to rape. May 7, 2013 – In a DOD press briefing, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Major General Gary Patton, director of SAPRO, announced new series of actions to further DOD's sexual assault and prevention efforts. Hagel directed service chiefs to develop methods to hold all military commanders accountable for establishing command climates of dignity and respect in incorporating sexual assault prevention and victim care principles in their commands. May 7, 2013 – DOD announced the establishment of the Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel consisting of nine selected appointees. Secretary of Defense Hagel appointed five members to serve on the response systems panel, who joined four members appointed by the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. May 14, 2013 – The Army announced that an Army Sergeant First Class assigned to III Corps, Fort Hood, TX, was under investigation for pandering, abusive sexual contact, assault, and maltreatment of subordinates. May 15, 2013 – Returning from NATO meetings in Brussels, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, told reporters that sexual assault in the Armed Forces constitutes a crisis in the military. He further stated that "We're losing the confidence of the women who serve that we can solve this problem, and that's a crisis." May 16, 2013 – At the White House, President Obama met with senior military leaders on the issue of sexual assault in the U.S. Armed Forces. The President stated that not only is it "shameful and disgraceful" but also "dangerous to our national security." May 17, 2013 – During a press briefing, Defense Secretary Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey discussed their meeting with President Obama, Vice President Biden, and senior enlisted and officer leadership in the U.S. military. Dempsey told the Armed Forces Press Service that he believes that the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be factors in the growing incidents of sexual assault. He also stated that: "If a perpetrator shows up at a court-martial with a rack of ribbons and has four deployments and a Purple Heart, there is certainly a risk that we might be a little too forgiving of that particular crime." May 17, 2013 – In an interview, Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Walsh, said that sexual assaults in his branch of the military typically involve alcohol use and can be traced to a lack of respect for women. "We have a problem with respect for women that leads to many of the situations that result in sexual assault in our Air Force," he told reporters in his Pentagon office. Walsh further stated that combatting the crisis is his top priority and that he reviews every reported case of sexual assault. May 22, 2013 – The Pentagon announced that DOD's sexual assault prevention staff would be exempt from furloughs. According to Pentagon spokeswoman, Cynthia O. Smith, "The full-time civilians working these programs and implementing policies will not be furloughed. This will ensure responsive victim care and ensure all the programs recently directed by Secretary Hagel are implemented swiftly and efficiently." May 24, 2013 – President Obama addressed graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and noted in his commencement speech that the misconduct of some in the military can endanger U.S. forces and undermine U.S. efforts to achieve security and peace worldwide. He further stated that those who commit sexual assault are not only committing a crime, they also "threaten the trust and discipline that make our military strong." May 25, 2013 – In a commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told graduates that they must be the generation of leaders that will commit to building a culture of respect for every member of the military. He stated that sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military "are a profound betrayal of sacred oaths and sacred trusts." He also quoted President Obama's remarks at the Naval Academy when he said, "these crimes have no place in the greatest military on earth." May 30, 2013 – Pentagon officials reaffirmed DOD's commitment to fighting sexual assault by launching the Safe HelpRoom at http://SafeHelpline.org , a Sexual Assault Support Service for the DOD community. This new service allows victims to participate in moderated group chat sessions to connect with and support one another in a secure online environment. The Safe HelpRoom is in response to a need for peer support services identified by users of DOD's Safe Helpline for sexual assault victims. June 6, 2013 – In a speech at the 2013 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said plans to combat and eliminate sexual assault include a greater investment in specially trained sexual assault investigators and a push for more psychological, medical, and legal assistance for victims. The vice chairman also said officials will examine the scientific roots of behavioral factors associated with potential predators, which will assist sexual assault prevention efforts. June 7, 2013 – The Pentagon released a statement that Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison was suspended of his duties as the Commanding General of United States Army Japan and I Corps for failing in his duties as a commander to report or investigate an allegation of sexual assault. June 7, 2013 – Air Force officials announced Maj. Gen. Margaret H. Woodward has been assigned to direct the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to replace Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, the former chief of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. He was arrested and charged by Arlington County, VA, police for allegedly being drunk and groping a woman in a parking lot one mile from the Pentagon. In the previous year, Maj. Gen. Woodward led the investigation of Air Force training in the wake of a sexual assault scandal centered at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. June 27, 2013 – Defense Secretary Hagel met in person with the Sexual Assault Response Systems Review Panel for the first time. According to the Pentagon, "the panel will conduct an independent review and assessment of the systems used to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate crimes involving sexual assault and related offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and will develop recommendations to improve the effectiveness of those systems." DOD established the panel in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 ( P.L. 112-239 , Section 576 (a)). Previously, Hagel held a teleconference with panel members. July 3, 2013 – The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, launched a comprehensive campaign designed to assist National Guard units in combating sexual assault as part of a military-wide effort to protect victims and eradicate the crime from the ranks. July 9, 2013 – DOD Inspector General (IG) released its report, Joint Warfighting and Readiness Evaluation of the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations Sexual Assault Investigations . The report evaluated the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations' (MCIOs') sexual assault investigations in 2010 to determine whether they were adequately investigated. The report found most MCIO investigations (89%) met or exceeded the investigative standards and returned only cases with significant deficiencies (11%) to the MCIOs for corrective action. July 18, 2013 – The Air Force adopted two new measures to eliminate sexual assault from within the ranks, including requiring mandatory discharge for airmen, officer or enlisted, who commit sexual assault, and requiring the Air Force's most senior commanders to review actions taken on these cases. In addition, the Air Force Academy is reviewing the results of a survey on sexual assault taken on June 24, 2013. Suggestions from survey respondents ranged from involving faculty with character coaching to a complete revamping of how the Air Force Academy trains its freshmen. July 18, 2013 – Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced additional resources for investigators and a new initiative designed to enhance accountability and transparency across the Navy. Mabus approved nearly $10 million to hire more than 50 additional Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Family and Sexual Violence Program personnel to shorten investigation times, and directed the Navy and Marine Corps to regularly publish online the results of each service's courts- martial. July 18, 2013 – The Air Force announced that airmen who commit sexual assaults will be discharged, and senior commanders must review actions taken on sexual assault cases under new Air Force initiatives as of July 2, 2013. August 15, 2013 – Defense Secretary Hagel announced seven new anti-sexual assault initiatives in a memo detailing "... absolute and sustained commitment to providing a safe environment in which every service member and DOD civilian is free from the threat of sexual harassment and assault," he wrote in a statement. "Our success depends on a dynamic and responsive approach. We, therefore, must continually assess and strive to improve our prevention and response programs." October 3, 2013 – Air Force Col. Alan R. Metzler, the deputy director for SAPRO, emphasized that the first step to stopping sexual assault in the military is through prevention but when prevention fails, new measures to improve victims' confidence and combat underreporting were needed. Metzler outlined the DOD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) and the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID), two initiatives set to improve the advocacy services provided to victims of sexual assault. November 9, 2013 – Army Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton, director of DOD's SAPRO, reported on DOD's recent prevention and awareness successes before the Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel. He testified that new DOD initiatives to combat sexual assault helped create a 46% jump in victims reporting compared to the previous year. December 20, 2013 – President Obama instructed Defense Secretary Hagel and Chairman Dempsey to continue their efforts to make substantial improvements with respect to sexual assault prevention and response, including to the military justice system. He also directed that they report back with a full-scale review of their progress, by December 1, 2014. January 10, 2014 – Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, the new SAPRO chief announced the release of the Annual Report to Congress on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies . The report covered the 2012-13 academic year, and found in 2013, reports of sexual assault decreased at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The number of reported incidents went up at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. January 30, 2014 – The independent Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel accepted a subcommittee recommendation that senior military commanders retain authority for referring these crimes to courts-martial. May 1, 2014 – DOD released the 2013 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military . The report covered the period from Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013, and revealed 5,061 reports of sexual assault in the Defense Department, a 50 percent jump from the previous year. More than 70 percent of all cases that the military had jurisdiction resulted in criminal charges. July 17, 2014 – DOD collaborated with the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime to develop a curriculum that expands on the skills learned in initial sexual assault response coordinator and sexual assault prevention and response victim advocate training. December 4, 2014 – Secretary Hagel released DOD's Report to the President of the United States on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response on its progress in addressing sexual assault in the military, and announced four directives to further strengthen the department's prevention and response program. According to this report, based on survey data, servicemembers experienced fewer sexual assaults in FY2014 than in FY2012, an estimated 19,000, down from 26,000. January 16, 2015 – Secretary Hagel at the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Summit remarked that the fight to end sexual assault in the military must be "personal." He cited "encouraging progress" over the last year, but acknowledged more can be done, notably in areas such as social retaliation, which he said stems from the overall environment. February 11, 2015 – The annual report on sexual harassment and violence at the military service academies estimated that overall rates of unwanted sexual contact at the military service academies declined in Academic Program Year (APY) 2013-2014, decreased for both men and women, indicating that fewer sexual assaults occurred at the academies in APY 13-14 than in APY 11-12. February 19, 2015 – Health and criminal investigation experts spoke at the Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program Summit on the underreporting of male victims of sexual assault in the military due to factors such as shame and fear of being ostracized. March 26, 2015 – SAPRO head Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow monitored 50 initiatives put in place by past Defense secretaries Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel. According to Snow, the most recent data, gathered last year, shows the past-year prevalence of sexual assault is down significantly, Snow said. Estimates indicate there were 6,000 to 7,000 fewer sexual assaults in 2014 than in 2012. May 1, 2015 – According to the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Stud y, "the percentage of active duty women who experienced unwanted sexual contact over the past year declined from 6.1% in 2012 to an estimated 4.3% in 2014. For active duty men, the estimated prevalence rate dropped from 1.2% in 2012 to 0.9% in 2014. Based on these rates, an estimated 18,900 service members experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2014, down from around 26,000 in 2012." May 22, 2015 – Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Army Maj. Gen. Camille M. Nichols will assume duties as director of SAPRO effective June 8, 2015. January 8, 2016 – DOD announced the release of the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies for A cademic P rogram Y ear 2014-2015 . Data in the report indicated the academies received 91 sexual assault reports during the academic year, an increase of 32 reports over the previous year. April 2 8 , 2016 – Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced a sexual assault retaliation prevention and response strategy aimed at how the department supports servicemembers who experience retaliation, while aligning prevention and response efforts across the services. May 5, 2016 – The annual report of the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program indicated that DOD's efforts are having an impact. In FY2015, service members made 6,083 reports of sexual assault – the same rate as the previous fiscal year, with four in 1,000 servicemembers reporting sexual assault despite a smaller active force size. In addition, 21 percent of those making restricted reports in fiscal 2015 chose to convert to unrestricted reports, enabling them to participate in the military justice process. September 19 , 2016 – The Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, hosted an all-day training event to strengthen how military and civilian communities work together to support servicemembers who report sexual assault in a joint program between DOD and the Justice Department. October 19, 2016 – DOD released the 2016 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey that allowed servicemembers who have experienced sexual assault and elected to participate in the military justice process the opportunity to provide DOD with direct feedback on their experiences; and to improve the services and support servicemembers reporting sexual assault. December 15, 2016 – Defense Department officials announced the release of the "DOD Plan to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Assault of Military Men," designed to enhance outreach to military men and increase efforts to help them recover. The following information was compiled using Congress.gov, Congressional Quarterly (CQ.com), House.gov, Senate.gov, and Roll Call. See the section "Resources" for a list of congressional hearings, reports and other documents. January 23, 2013 – The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on sexual misconduct at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. January 25, 2013 – H.R. 430 , Protect Our Military Trainees Act, was introduced. This legislation would have amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice to protect new members of the Armed Forces who are undergoing basic training from the sexual advances of the members of the Armed Forces responsible for their instruction. It also requires that violators be punished as a court-martial may direct. March 5, 2013 – H.R. 975 , the Servicemember Mental Health Review Act, was introduced. This bill would have amended Title 10, United States Code, to extend the duration of the Physical Disability Board of Review and to the expand the authority of such Board to review the separation of members of the Armed Forces on the basis of a mental condition not amounting to disability, including separation on the basis of a personality or adjustment disorder. This would have included a review of those victims who have suffered military sexual trauma. March 13, 2013 – S. 548 , Military Sexual Assault Prevention Act of 2013, was introduced, read twice, and referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. This legislation aimed to amend Title 10, United States Code, and to improve capabilities of the Armed Forces to prevent and respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces. March 13, 2013 – Victims of sexual assault in the military testified before a Senate panel examining the military's handling of sexual assault cases and stated that the "military justice system is broken." They urged Congress to make changes in the law that would stem the rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment that they said are pervasive in the service branches. Several male Navy veterans testified before the Senate Armed Service Committee's military personnel panel investigating sexual assaults in the military. One recounted that he was raped in 2000 by a higher-ranking petty officer aboard a submarine. He told the committee that he carries permanent shame not for the sexual assault but over how the Navy forced him to leave. He stated in his testimony, "I carry my discharge as an official and permanent symbol of shame, on top of the trauma of the physical attack, the retaliation and its aftermath." March 20, 2013 – S. 628 , Servicemember Mental Health Review Act, was introduced, read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Related to H.R. 975 , this bill would have amended Title 10, United States Code, to extend the duration of the Physical Disability Board of Review and to the expand the authority of such board to review the separation of members of the Armed Forces on the basis of a mental condition not amounting to disability, including separation on the basis of a personality or adjustment disorder. This would have included a review of those victims who may have suffered military sexual trauma. April 17, 2013 – H.R. 1593 , Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention (STOP) Act, was introduced. This bill seeks to amend Title 10, United States Code, by establishing a Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Council and an enhanced Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Office "to improve the prevention of and response to sexual assault in the Armed Forces, and by requiring the appointment of a Director of Military Prosecutions for sexual-related offenses committed by a member of the Armed Forces." April 26, 2013 – A U.S. senator reportedly put a hold on the nomination of Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, nominated to serve as vice commander of the U.S. Space Command. Earlier in February 2012, Gen. Helms rejected the recommendation of legal counsel and overturned the conviction of an Air Force captain who had been found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a female lieutenant. May 7, 2013 – S. 871 , Combating Military Sexual Assault Act of 2013, was introduced, read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. This legislation would have aimed to provide any victim with a special military lawyer who would assist them throughout the process, prohibit sexual contact between instructors and trainees during and within 30 days of completion of basic training or its equivalent, and ensure that sexual assault response coordinators are available to help members of the National Guard and Reserve. May 7, 2013 – H.R. 1864 , to amend Title 10, United States Code, would have required an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault, was introduced and referred to the House Armed Services Committee. This bill would have required the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with respect to the Coast Guard, or any of the military departments to investigate allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding alleged instances of rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual misconduct in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. May 7, 2013 – At the Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel hearing Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force's Chief of Staff, told the committee that he and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley were "appalled" by the charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, branch chief of the Air Force's Sexual Assault and Prevention Office. He was arrested and charged by Arlington County, VA, police for allegedly being drunk and groping a woman in a parking lot one mile from the Pentagon. "Sexual assault prevention and response efforts are critically important to us," Welsh said. "It is unacceptable that this occurs anywhere, at any time, in our Air Force." May 8, 2013 – H.R. 1867 , the Better Enforcement for Sexual Assault Free Environments (BE SAFE) Act of 2013, was introduced, read twice, and referred to the House Armed Services Committee. This bill would have amended Title 10, United States Code, "to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault." This bill would ensure those found guilty of rape, sexual assault, sodomy, or an attempt to commit any of those crimes, are—at a minimum—dismissed or dishonorably discharged from the military. The five-year statute of limitations within the military's justice system for sexual assault cases would be eliminated, and legal assistance services available to victims would be expanded. May 8, 2013 – In a hearing of the Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, senators questioned the Air Force's top leaders over rising sexual assaults in the military. Some senators cited DOD statistics from the Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military 2012 on the number of incidents of sexual assaults the same week Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, Chief of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Branch, was arrested and charged with sexual battery. May 9, 2013 – A hearing of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on the Air Force budget was held. Witnesses included Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force, and General Mark Welsh, Air Force Chief of Staff. Members of the committee questioned them on Defense Secretary Hagel's review of the decision by Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin to dismiss Lt. Col. James Wilkerson's sexual assault conviction. May 14, 2013 – H.Res. 213 , a resolution to establish the "Special Committee on Sexual Assault and Abuse in the Armed Forces" was introduced. A "Dear Colleague" memorandum urged support of this legislation referencing Gen. Martin Dempsey's denouncement of military sexual assault as a "crisis" and the need for Congress to address this problem in a "deeper, more comprehensive manner." This Special Committee would have included 19 members appointed by the Speaker and Minority Leader, as well as chairman and ranking members of the committees on Armed Services, Appropriations, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform. May 14, 2013 – H.R. 1960 , a bill to authorize appropriations for FY2014 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, was introduced. The FY2014 NDAA addressed the issue of sexual assault in the military by establishing minimum sentencing guidelines for any service members found guilty of sexual assault as well as other provisions. May 15, 2013 – H.R. 1986 , Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Deployment Act, was introduced. This bill would have provided for the assignment of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners-Adult/Adolescent to brigades and equivalent units of the Armed Forces. May 15, 2013 – H.R. 2002 , Combating Military Sexual Assault Act of 2013, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. This bill was related to S. 871 , and would have provided any sexual assault victim with a special military lawyer who would assist them throughout the process, prohibit sexual contact between instructors and trainees during and within 30 days of completion of basic training or its equivalent, and ensure that sexual assault response coordinators (SARCs) are available to help members of the National Guard and Reserve. May 16, 2013 – H.R. 2016 , Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013, was introduced and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. This bill would have required "a commanding officer who receives a report of a sexual-related offense involving a member in such officer's chain of command to act immediately upon such report by way of referral to the appropriate criminal investigative office or service." This bill was related to S. 538 , Military Sexual Assault Prevention Act of 2013, and S. 967 , Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013. May 16, 2013 – S. 967 , Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013, was introduced, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. This bill would have required a commanding officer who receives a report of a sex-related offense involving a member in such officer's chain of command to act immediately upon such report by way of referral to the appropriate criminal investigative office or service. May 21, 2013 – S. 992 , a bill to provide for offices on sexual assault prevention and response under the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, to require reports on additional offices and selection of sexual assault prevention and response personnel, and for other purposes. This bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. May 22, 2013 – A House panel passed a number of changes in sexual assault prevention programs that limited commander discretion in reducing or dismissing rape and assault charges and expanded support services for victims. The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel approved the personnel issues as part of H.R. 1960 , the FY2014 NDAA bill. May 22, 2013 – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on the Army's FY 2014 Budget Request. Witnesses included Secretary of the Army, John McHugh and Chief of Staff of the Army, General Raymond T. Odierno. Army Secretary McHugh announced at this hearing that the service will soon require soldiers being considered for sexual assault prevention jobs to undergo behavioral-health evaluations as a way of screening out potential sex offenders from these high-profile positions. This was in response to a senator's question about the criteria for sexual assault prevention jobs. McHugh said that service record and availability are the only criteria commanders are using to fill these jobs since sexual-assault prevention positions do not fall under any military occupational specialty and lack career incentives. May 23, 2013 – S. 1032 , Better Enforcement for Sexual Assault Free Environments Act of 2013, was introduced, read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. This bill would amend Title 10, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the Uniform Code of Military Justice related to sex-related offenses committed by members of the Armed Forces. June 4, 2013 – The uniformed chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard appeared before a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel. These military leaders acknowledged that despite a "zero tolerance" for sexual abuse, they had neglected the "epidemic" in the ranks by not always monitoring subordinate commanders. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey pointed to competing demands and pressures of fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a justification for lack of adequate monitoring. The Service Chiefs voiced support for legislative changes that would take tougher action against offenders and provide more support for victims of military sexual assault. They opposed a legislative proposal that would remove unit commanders' legal power to oversee major criminal cases and transfer that authority to uniformed prosecutors. The Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, noted that taking away commanders' authority in matters of military justice would adversely impact discipline and that "we cannot, however, simply 'prosecute' our way out of this problem. At its heart, sexual assault is a discipline issue that requires a culture change." June 4, 2013 – S. 1092 was introduced, read twice, and referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. This bill would have amended Title 10, United States Code, to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault. June 6, 2013 –would allow victims of sexual assault to apply for a permanent change The House Armed Services Committee passed H.R. 1960 , the NDAA for FY2014, by a vote of 59-2. According to the Committee's Fact Sheet, "the FY14 NDAA of station or unit transfer, while authorizing the Secretary of Defense to inform commanders of their authority to remove or temporarily reassign service members who are the alleged perpetrators of sexual assault. It also requires the provision of victims' counsels, qualified and specially trained lawyers in each of the services, to be made available to provide legal assistance to the victims of sex-related offenses. The FY14 NDAA adds rape, sexual assault, or other sexual misconduct to the protected communications of service members with a Member of Congress or an Inspector General." June 14, 2013 – The House passed H.R. 1960 , the NDAA for FY2014 by a vote of 315 to 108 (Roll no. 244). This bill includes a provision protecting victims of sexual assault in the Armed Forces as protected communications under military whistle-blower laws, to shield victims against retaliatory actions. The measure seeks to encourage more victims to report assaults, rape and other forms of sexual misconduct. June 17, 2013 – H.R. 2397 , "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014," was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Appropriations. It was reported as an original measure, H.Rept. 113-113 . Lawmakers wrote in this committee report that they were "outraged by the pervasive problem of sexual assault in the Armed Forces. Sexual assault is not just an issue in the military; it is an epidemic. To address it, the Committee believes that there must be a culture change at every level of the military, from the most senior leadership to the most junior ranks." Included was a measure that would provide $182 million for the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and for an expansion of a victim's counseling program. For FY2013, the programs received $95 million. The bill included $25 million that was not requested by the administration in a transfer account to expand assistance across the Defense Department. June 20, 2013 – S. 1197 , NDAA for Fiscal Year 2014, was introduced in the Senate. This bill would have authorized "appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes," and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. The original measure was reported to the Senate in Report No. 113-44 and placed on the Legislative Calendar under General Orders (Calendar No. 91). Included in this bill was Title V—Military Personnel Policy, Subtitle E—Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Military Justice. June 27, 2013 – H.R. 1864 , a bill "To amend Title 10, United States Code, to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault," was agreed to/passed in the House, 423-0 (Roll no. 294). July 18, 2013 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman, in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee said that commanders should retain responsibility for prosecuting service members accused of sexual assault, and taking that authority away could harm good order and discipline. July 2 2 , 2013 – H.R. 2777 , Stop Pay for Violent Offenders Act, was introduced "to amend Title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to suspend the pay and allowances of a member of the Armed Forces who is held in confinement pending trial by court-martial or by civil authority for any sex-related offense or capital offense." July 24, 2013 – H.Amdt. 408 to H.R. 2397 , an amendment to provide funds to identify individuals who were separated from the military on the grounds of a disorder subsequent to reporting a sexual assault and, if appropriate, correcting their record. This amendment (A065) was agreed to by voice vote. July 24, 2013 – H.R. 2397 , "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014," was passed/agreed to in House, 315 - 109 (Roll no. 414). October 22, 2013 – H.R. 3304 , the NDAA for FY2014, was introduced in the House. As introduced, the bill would have provided for a defense counsel interview of victim of an alleged sex-related offense in presence of trial counsel, counsel for the victim, or a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, prohibition on service in the Armed Forces by individuals who have been convicted of certain sexual offenses, Coast Guard regulations regarding request for permanent change of station or unit transfer by victim of sexual assault, temporary administrative reassignment or removal of an active duty member accused of committing a sexual assault, Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault, compliance tracking of commanding officers in conducting organizational climate assessments for purposes of preventing and responding to sexual assaults, advancement of submittal deadline for report of independent panel on assessment of military response systems to sexual assault, retention of certain forms on sexual assault, timely access to Sexual Assault Response Coordinators by the National Guard and Reserves, and qualifications and selection of Department of Defense sexual assault prevention and response personnel and required availability of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. It also would establish commanding officer actions regarding sexual assault reports, an eight-day incident reporting requirement in response to unrestricted report of sexual assault in which the victim is a member of the Armed Forces, and curricula that addresses the prevention of sexual assault at the military service academies. December 26, 2013 – H.R. 3304 , the NDAA for FY2014 became P.L. 113-66 . As enacted, the bill included more than two dozen provisions to address an epidemic of sexual assault in the military in Title XVII—Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Related Reforms, Subtitle A—Reform of Uniform Code of Military Justice. February 26, 2014 – Dr. Karen S. Guice, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and other Defense Department officials testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee on the relationship between military sexual assault survivors and the subsequent development of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder. April 9, 2014 – H.R. 4435 , the Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, was introduced in the House. The bill would have applied Title XVII of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( P.L. 113-66 ; 127 Stat. 950) to the military service academies, consulted with victims of sexual assault regarding victims' preference for prosecution of offense by court-martial or civilian court, created a confidential review of characterization of terms of discharge for victims of sexual offenses, revised requirements relating to DOD policy on retention of evidence in a sexual assault case to allow return of personal property upon completion of related proceedings, required the DOD Inspector General to review separation of members who made unrestricted reports of sexual assault, and would have created a deadline for submission of report containing results of review of Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity role in sexual harassment cases. Prior to passing in the House, the House Armed Services Committee rejected an amendment from Congresswoman Speier that would have removed the military chain of command from decisions to prosecute sexual assault cases and other major crimes, except offenses that are unique to the military. She offered an alternative proposal, which would have only removed commanding officers' prosecutorial discretion for instances of sexual assault, that was also rejected by a 28-34 vote. It was received in the Senate, read twice, and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 425. June 2, 2014 — S. 2410 , the Carl Levin National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, was introduced in the Senate. It was placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 402. The bill included measures on military justice such as enhancing sexual assault prevention and response, the application of P.L. 113-66 , Title XVII to military academies, and the collaboration between the Departments of Justice and Defense. December 19 , 2014 — H.R. 3979 , the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, was signed as P.L. 113-291 . Subtitle D—Military Justice, Including Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention and Response addressed the following: modification of DOD policy on retention of evidence in a sexual assault cases to permit return of personal property upon completion of related proceedings; requirements relating to Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner; analysis and assessment of disposition of most serious offenses; a plan for limited use of certain information on sexual assaults in restricted reports by military criminal investigative organizations; the establishment of a Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces; confidential review of the terms of discharge of sexual assault survivors; deadline for submission of report containing results of review of Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity role in sexual harassment cases; and applied Title XVII of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2014 ( P.L. 113-66 ; 127 Stat. 950) to the military service academies. January 13, 2015 — S. 178 , the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 was introduced in the Senate. Title V of this bill "Military Sex Offender Reporting" stipulates that the Secretary of Defense shall provide the Attorney General information about sex offenders in the military to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry and the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. It became P.L. 114-22 on May 29, 2015. February 3, 2015 — H.R. 677 , American Heroes COLA Act of 2015, was introduced in the House, passed on February 9, and the next day was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Section 6 proposed that veterans whose claims were being reviewed again in relation to a previously denied claim relating to military sexual trauma be given priority, among other claims. February 12, 2015 — H.R. 956 , the Military Track, Register and Alert Communities Act of 2015 (Military TRAC Act) was introduced in the House and referred to the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel on November 23. This bill intended to require DOD to maintain a sex offender registry of individuals convicted of certain sex offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or of other military offenses appropriate for sex offender registration purposes. April 13, 2015 — H.R. 1735 , the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, was introduced in the House. Subtitle D addressed military justice, including sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and response. April 24, 2015 — H.R. 2029 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 was introduced in the House and later became P.L. 114-113 . Section 8057 specified that "$25,000,000 shall be for continued implementation and expansion of the Sexual Assault Special Victims' Counsel Program." May 14, 2015 — S. 1356 , the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 was introduced in the Senate and later became P.L. 114-92 on November 25, 2015. Subtitle D "Military Justice, Including Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention and Response" amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice, authorized Special Victims' Counsel for civilian DOD employees, required the DOD to develop a policy to standardize the training for Special Victims' Counsel, required the establishment of Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces within 90 days, required the development of a plan to improve prevention and response to sexual assaults of male members of the Armed Forces, required the establishment of a strategy to prevent retaliation against Armed Forces members who report or intervene on behalf of sexual assault victims, and authorized the President to modify Rule 304(c) of the Military Rules of Evidence to conform to the rules governing the admissibility of the corroboration of admissions and confessions in the trial of criminal cases in the U.S. district courts. June 11, 2015 — S. 1558 , Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016, was introduced in the Senate. The bill would have required specified O&M funds to be used for continued implementation and expansion of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. June 11, 2015 — S. 1567 , a bill to amend Title 10, United States Code, to provide for a review of the characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge, was introduced in the Senate. The bill proposed to address medical evidence reviews for former members applying for relief from the terms of their discharge due to military sexual trauma among other conditions. June 11, 2015 — S.Amdt. 1578 to S.Amdt. 1463 in H.R. 1735 , National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, was proposed in the Senate and later considered and defeated on June 16. This bill was intended to reform procedures for determinations to proceed to trial by court-martial for certain offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It did not achieve 60 votes in the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. The final vote was 50 - 49. April 12, 2016 — H.R. 4909 , the NDAA for FY2017, was introduced in the House where it passed on May 18. On May 26, it was received in the Senate, read twice, and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 502. April 18, 2016 — H.R. 4991 , the Prevent Retaliation and Open up Transparency to Expand Care for Troops (PROTECT) Act of 2016, was introduced in the House and later referred to the House Armed Services' Subcommittee on Military Personnel. The bill intended to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to establish the offense of retaliation with provisions that would permit any person intent on retaliating against anyone for reporting or planning to report a criminal offense to be punished as a court-martial may direct. May 18, 2016 — S. 2943 , the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, was introduced in the Senate and became P.L. 114-328 on December 23. Subtitle D specified requirements for the review by a discharge review board of claims by former members asserting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) in connection with combat or sexual trauma. Subtitle E "Military Justice and Legal Assistance Matters" required an annual report on sexual assault and response efforts, required Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to establish evaluation metrics and best practices in the prevention of and response to retaliation, and modified the definition of sexual harassment for the purposes of investigations of complaints of harassment by commanding officers. Title XXXV "Maritime Matters" established requirements for policies and training regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and required the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to submit a report to Congress about the sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Title LIV "Court-Martial Jurisdiction" specified the sexual offenses over which general courts-martial have exclusive jurisdiction. Title LX "Punitive Articles" created a new section of the Uniform Code of Military Justice addressing accountability for sexual misconduct committed by recruiters and trainers during the various phases within the recruiting and basic military training environments, revised the definition of ''sexual act'' with respect to the offenses of rape and sexual assault. May 19, 2016 — H.R. 5293 , Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017, was introduced in the House, passed on June 16, received in the Senate the next day, where it received a motion to proceed to consideration. The bill would have required O&M funds to be used for continued implementation and expansion of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program. May 26, 2016 — S. 3000 , Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017, was introduced in the Senate and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 500. The Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Department of Defense held several hearings prior from February-April. The bill would have required specified O&M funds to be used for continued implementation and expansion of the SAPR Program. DOD Directive No. 6495.01. "Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program," January 23, 2012, Incorporating Change 3, April 11, 2017, at http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/649501p.pdf DOD Directive No. 6495.02. "Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program Procedures," March 28, 2013, Incorporating Change 3, May 24, 2017, at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649502p.pdf DOD Inspector General (IG). E valuation of the Military Criminal Investigative Organizations Sexual Assault Investigations, DODIG-2013-091, July 9, 2013, 104 p . at http://www.dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/1118941/evaluation-of-the-military-criminal-investigative-organizations-sexual-assault/ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) at https://www.sapr.mil/ Includes the full text of DOD Annual Reports, FY2004 - FY2016, and reports on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the U.S. Military Service Academies, Academic Program Years (APY) 2005-2018. "Final 2014–2015 Academic Program Year Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault at the United States Merchant Marine Academy," Maritime Administration, undetermined date, at https://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Final-2014-2015-SASH-Report.pdf "Department of Transportation U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Culture Audit, Deliverable 4. Final Report," U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, December 2016, at https://cms.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/mission/civil-rights/263966/dot-usmma-report.pdf "Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program," United States Coast Guard, LMI, December 2016, at https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/2001723560/-1/-1/0/CIM_1754_10E.PDF "Preliminary 2015-2016 Academic Year Biennial Survey and Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault at the United States Merchant Marine Academy," Maritime Administration, January 12, 2017, at https://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Preliminary-2015-2016-SASH-Report.pdf Military Justice: Oversight and Better Collaboration Needed for Sexual Assault Investigations and Adjudications , GAO-11-579, Jun 22, 2011, 42 p. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-579 Preventing Sexual Harassment: DOD Needs Greater Leadership Commitment and an Oversight Framework , GAO-11-809, Sep 21, 2011, 47 p. http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/585344.pdf Prior GAO Work on DOD's Actions to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Assault in the Military , GAO-12-571R, Mar 30, 2012, 40 p. http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/589780.pdf DOD Has Taken Steps to Meet the Health Needs of Deployed Servicewomen, but Actions Are Needed to Enhance Care for Sexual Assault Victims, GAO-13-182, January 29, 2013, 40 p. http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/651624.pdf Military Personnel: Actions Needed to Address Sexual Assaults of Male Servicemembers, Report to the Committee on Armed Services , GAO-15-284, March 19, 2015, 86 p. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-284 Sexual Assault: Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Prevention Strategy and to Help Ensure It Is Effectively Implemented, GAO-16-61, November 4, 2015, 59 p. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-61 DOD and Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Increase Oversight and Management Information on Hazing Incidents Involving Servicemembers, GAO-16-226, Feb 9, 2016, 74 p. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-226 The following news sources are listed in chronological order to make it easier to follow the numerous incidents of wide-spread misconduct reported in the media. Military.com has ongoing news on military sexual assault at http://www.military.com/topics/sexual-assault . Montgomery, Nancy. "Johnson Found Guilty of Last Two Counts; Awaits Sentencing." Stars and Stripes , June 13, 2012, at http://www.stripes.com/news/johnson-found-guilty-of-last-two-counts-awaits-sentencing-1.180204 Carroll, Chris. "Air Force has Identified 31 Alleged Victims in Lackland Sex Abuse Scandal," Stars and Stripes, June 28, 2012, at http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-has-identified-31-alleged-victims-in-lackland-sex-abuse-scandal-1.181597 Dao, James. "Instructor for Air Force Is Convicted in Sex Assaults," New York Times , July 20, 2012, at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/us/lackland-air-force-base-instructor-guilty-of-sex-assaults.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Blansett, Susan and Hoffman, Michael. "Sexual Assault Cases Flood Military Courts," Military.com, August 13, 2012, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/13/sex-assault-cases-flood-military-courts.html Risen, James. "Honor Betrayed: Attacked at 19 by an Air Force Trainer, and Speaking Out," New York Times , February 26, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/us/former-air-force-recruit-speaks-out-about-rape-by-her-sergeant-at-lackland.html?pagewanted=all Mulrine, Anne. "Seeking the Sex-Assault Solution," Air Force Magazine , April 2013, at http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2013/April%202013/0413solution.aspx "5 Former Lackland Commanders Disciplined," Military.com, May 2, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/05/02/5-former-lackland-commanders-disciplined.html Kime, Patricia. "Lawmakers Act Fast with New Legislation on Military Sexual Assault." Army Times , May 7, 2013. Shapira, Ian. "July Trial Set for Jeffrey Krusinski, Air Force Officer Accused of Sexual Battery." Washington Post , May 9, 2013, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/july-trial-set-for-air-force-officer-accused-of-sexual-battery/2013/05/09/8a21eb92-b8d9-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?utm_term=.e0d4951e6573 Steinhauer, Jennifer. "Lawmakers, at White House, Discuss Sex Abuse in Military." New York Times , May 9, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/us/politics/lawmakers-huddle-at-white-house-on-sex-abuse-in-military.html?_r=0 Whitlock, Craig. "Pentagon Grapples with Sex Crimes by Military Recruiters," Washington Post , May 12, 2013, at http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-12/world/39210853_1_military-recruiters-sexual-abuse-army-reserve Sisk, Richard. "Assault Prevention NCO Investigated for Sex Crimes." Military.com, May 15, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/05/15/assault-prevention-nco-investigated-for-sex-crimes.html Whitlock, Craig. "Some in Congress want Changes in Military Law as a Result of Sex Crimes," Washington Post , May 15, 2013, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/some-in-congress-want-changes-in-military-law-as-result-of-sex-crimes/2013/05/15/672a2a8a-bd8b-11e2-a31d-a41b2414d001_story.html Sisk, Richard. "Sex Assault Crisis Pushes Senate to Overhaul UCMJ," Military.com, May 16, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/05/16/sex-assault-crisis-pushes-senate-to-overhaul-ucmj.html Tilghman, Andrew. "Dempsey: DOD May Have Become 'Too Forgiving' of Sexual Assault," Army Times , May 17, 2013. Brady, Gen. Roger Brady (ret.). "Commentary: Telling Truths about Sexual Assault is Risky," Air Force Times , May. 21, 2013. Salcedo, Michele. "Senator: Fire Commanders Allowing Sex Assault," Army Times, May 26, 2013. Tucker, Eric. "More Details Released on Annapolis Sex Assault Investigation: Allegations Made Against Three Football Players," Navy Times , May 30, 2013. Lardner, Richard. "Brass Seeks to Temper Military Justice Overhaul," Associated Press, June 3, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/06/03/brass-seeks-to-temper-military-justice-overhaul.html Cassata, Donna and Richard Lardner. "Sexual Assaults Force Changes to Military Justice," Associated Press, June 4, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/06/04/sexual-assaults-force-changes-to-military-justice.html Zengerle, Patricia. "U.S. Lawmakers Act to Limit Military Authority in Sex Assault Cases," Reuters, June 5, 2013, at http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/us-usa-military-sexassault-congress-idUSBRE9541IG20130605 Cassata, Donna and Richard Lardner. " House OKs 2-Yr Jail Term for Military Sex Assault ," Associated Press, June 14, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/06/14/house-oks-2-year-jail-term-for-military-sex-assault.html Montgomery, Nancy. " After 2 decades of sexual assault in military, no real change in message ," Stars and Stripes , July 7, 2013, at https://www.stripes.com/news/after-2-decades-of-sexual-assault-in-military-no-real-change-in-message-1.229091 Steinhauer, Jennifer. "Complex Fight in Senate over Curbing Military Sex Assaults," New York Times , June 14, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/15/us/politics/in-senate-complex-fight-over-curbing-sexual-military-assaults.html?pagewanted=all Dao, James. "In Debate over Military Sexual Assault, Men Are Overlooked Victims," New York Times , June 23, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-debate-over-military-sexual-assault-men-are-overlooked-victims.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Sisk, Richard. "Military Tries to Sever Booze, Sex Assault Link," Military.com, July 8, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/07/08/military-tries-to-sever-booze-sex-assault-link.html Watson, Julie. "Military Works to Change Culture to Combat Rape," Associated Press, July 15, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/07/15/military-works-to-change-culture-to-combat-rape.html Olson, Wyatt. "IG Review Finds Deficiencies in Sex Assault Cases," Stars and Stripes, July 16, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/07/16/ig-review-finds-deficiencies-in-sex-assault-cases.html Shanker, Thom. "New Support for Military in Sex Cases," New York Times , July 24, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/politics/new-support-for-military-in-sex-cases.html Taranto, James. "A Strange Sort of Justice at West Point," The Wall Street Journal, July 26, 2013, at https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-strange-sort-of-justice-at-west-point-1376453937 Cassata, Donna, "Senator Targets Military Law over Sexual Assault," Associated Press, July 29, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/07/29/senator-targets-military-law-over-sexual-assault.html?comp=7000023317843&rank=3 Groer, Annie. " Military brass claim progress in pursuing sexual assault cases ," Washington Post, August 1, 2013, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/08/01/military-brass-claim-progress-in-pursing-sexual-assault-cases/?utm_term=.72e55e7e218c Jennifer Koons. "Sexual Assault in the Military: Can the Pentagon stem the rise in incidents?" CQ Researcher , vol. 23, no. 29 (A ugust 9, 2013 ), p p. 693-716 . Laird, Lorelei. " Military lawyers confront changes as sexual assault becomes big news ," ABA (American Bar Association) Journal , September 2013, at http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/military_lawyers_confront_changes_as_sexual_assault_becomes_big_news/ Jelinek, Pauline. " Pentagon: Reports of Sexual Assault Up 46 Percent ," Associated Press, November 8, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/11/08/pentagon-reports-of-sexual-assault-up-46-percent.html Matthews, Michael F. " The Untold Story of Military Sexual Assault ," The New York Times, November 24, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/opinion/the-untold-story-of-military-sexual-assault.html " Men Sexually Assaulted in the Military Speak Out ," Baltimore Sun, December 20, 2013, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/12/20/men-sexually-assaulted-in-the-military-speak-out.html Kageyama, Yuri and Richard Lardner. "Documents Reveal Chaotic Military Sex-Abuse Record," Associated Press, February 10, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/10/documents-reveal-chaotic-military-sex-abuse-record.html Montgomery, Nancy. "AF Program Rare Bright Spot in Sex Assault Fight," Stars and Stripes , February 27, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/27/air-force-program-rare-bright-spot-in-sex-assault-fight.html Cox, Matthew. "Alcohol Policies Reviewed as Sex Assault Rises," Military.com, May 1, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/05/01/alcohol-policies-reviewed-as-sex-assault-rises.html Burns, Robert. "Army Knocks 2-Star Down to 1-Star Rank," Associated Press, August 27, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/08/27/army-knocks-2-star-down-to-1-star-rank.html Milham, Matt. "Army: It's Good News That Sexual Assault Reports Are Up," Stars and Stripes , September 26, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/09/26/army-its-good-news-that-sexual-assault-reports-are-up.html Draper, Robert. The Military's Rough Justice on Sexual Assault," New York Times , November 26, 2014, at https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/magazine/the-militarys-rough-justice-on-sexual-assault.html Sisk, Richard. "Sexual Assault Reports Increase 8%, Pentagon Cites Progress," Military.com, December 4, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/04/sexual-assault-reports-increase-8-pentagon-cites-progress.html Baldor, Lolita C. "Male Military Sex Assault Victims Slow to Complain," Associated Press, December 9, 2014, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/09/male-military-sex-assault-victims-slow-to-complain.html Roulo, Claudette. "Sexual Assault Rates Decrease at Military Service Academies," DOD News, Defense Media Activity, February 11, 2015, at http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128158 Pellerin, Cheryl. "DOD Honors Sexual Assault Response Coordinators," DOD News, April 23, 2015, at https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/604510/ Rowe, Major Derek. "General courts-martial for sexual assault: How do they work?" Air Force News , April 28, 2015, at http://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/586763/general-courts-martial-for-sexual-assault-how-do-they-work/ Sisk, Richard. "Military Sexual Assault Reports Increased 11 Percent Last Year," Military.com, May 1, 2015, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/05/01/military-sexual-assault-reports-increased-11-percent-last-year.html Johnson, Lieutenant General Michelle D., U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent; Vice Admiral Walter E. "Ted" Carter Jr., superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy; Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, superintendent, U.S. Military Academy; Rear Admiral James A. Helis, superintendent, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, superintendent, U.S. Coast Guard Academy. "Lessons to Share: The five superintendents of federal service academies discuss how their institutions -- which faced scrutiny over sexual assault before many other colleges attracted such attention -- have responded to the issue," Inside Higher Ed, May 7, 2015, at https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/05/07/essay-how-federal-service-academics-prevent-and-punish-sexual-assault Tilghman, Andrew. "Military sexual assault claims: 1 in 20 lead to jail time," Military Times, May 13, 2015, at https://www.militarytimes.com/2015/05/13/military-sexual-assault-claims-1-in-20-lead-to-jail-time/ Schogol, Jeff. "Defense seeks dismissal of sexual assault case transferred to Washington," Air Force Times, October 17, 2015, at https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2015/10/17/defense-seeks-dismissal-of-sexual-assault-case-transferred-to-washington/ Whitlock, Craig. "In the war against sexual assault, the Army keeps shooting itself in the foot," Washington Post, December 19, 2015, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/12/19/in-the-war-against-sexual-assault-the-army-keeps-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/?utm_term=.d856136e939b Defense Media Activity. "Defense Department Proposes UCMJ Changes," DOD News, December 28, 2015, at https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/638108/defense-department-proposes-ucmj-changes/ Losey, Stephen. "USAF launches new strategy to curb sexual assault," Air Force Times, December 30, 2015, at https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2015/12/30/usaf-launches-new-strategy-to-curb-sexual-assault/ Kime, Patricia. "Sexual assault reporting rises at U.S. service academies," Military Times , January 8, 2016, at https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/01/08/sexual-assault-reporting-rises-at-u-s-service-academies/ Larter, David B. "Navy sex assault victims may be eligible for early separation," Navy Times, January 20, 2016, at https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2016/01/20/navy-sex-assault-victims-may-be-eligible-for-early-separation/ Cox, John Woodrow. "Why sex assault reports have spiked at the Naval Academy, West Point and the Air Force Academy, Washington Post , March 11, 2016, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/03/11/why-sex-assault-reports-have-spiked-at-the-naval-academy-west-point-and-the-air-force-academy/?utm_term=.a5e15f2f16f1 Whitlock, Craig, Thomas Gibbons-Neff. "Military bringing more charges against ofﬁcers for sexual assault," Washington Post, March 20, 2016, at https://www.stripes.com/news/us/military-bringing-more-charges-against-of%EF%AC%81cers-for-sexual-assault-1.400140#.WeTFNOFRXUc Lardner, Richard. "Pentagon misled lawmakers on military sexual assault cases," Associated Press , April 18, 2016, at https://apnews.com/23aed8a571f64a9d9c81271f0c6ae2fa/pentagon-misled-lawmakers-military-sexual-assault-cases Kheel, Rebecca. "Senators ask Obama to investigate whether Pentagon misled Congress," The Hill, April 19, 2016, at http://thehill.com/policy/defense/276832-senators-ask-obama-to-investigate-pentagons-sexual-assault-comments Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. "Air Force report on sexual assault highlights program's progress," Air Force News , May 05, 2016, at http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/752653/air-force-report-on-sexual-assault-highlights-programs-progress/ Tilghman, Andrew. "Military sex assault: Just 4 percent of complaints result in convictions," Military Times , May 5, 2016, at https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2016/05/05/military-sex-assault-just-4-percent-of-complaints-result-in-convictions/ Montgomery, Nancy. "US Military Court Addresses 'Incapable of Consent' to Sex Issue," Stars and Stripes , May 18, 2016, at http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/05/18/us-military-court-addresses-incapable-of-consent-to-sex-issue.html Losey, Stephen. "Military must do right by wrongly-discharged sexual assault victims, advocates say," Air Force Times , May 19, 2016, at https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2016/05/19/military-must-do-right-by-wrongly-discharged-sexual-assault-victims-advocates-say/ Lyle, Amaani. "DoD Safe Helpline Offers Specialized Support to Sexual Assault Victims," DOD News, July 15, 2016, at https://dod.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/841166/dod-safe-helpline-offers-specialized-support-to-sexual-assault-victims/ Rein, Lisa. "Merchant Marine Academy under fire for sexual assault allegations," Stars and Stripes, August 12, 2016, at https://www.stripes.com/news/us/merchant-marine-academy-under-fire-for-sexual-assault-allegations-1.423595 Lyle, Amaani. "DoD Unveils Plan to Broaden Sexual Assault Support to Men," DOD News, Defense Media Activity, December 15, 2016, at https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1030795/dod-unveils-plan-to-broaden-sexual-assault-support-to-men/ The following sources are listed in alphabetical order by author. Burgess, Ann W., Donna M. Slattery, and Patricia A. Herlihy. "Military Sexual Trauma: A Silent Syndrome." Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services 51, no. 2 (2013): 20-6. D'Ambrosio-Woodward, Tricia. "Military Sexual Assault: A Comparative Legal Analysis of the 2012 Department of Defense Report on Sexual Assault in the Military: What It Tells Us, What It Doesn't Tell Us, and How Inconsistent Statistic Gathering Inhibits Winning the 'Invisible War.'" Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society 29, no. 2 (2014): 173-211. Farris, Coreen, Terry L. Schell and Terri Tanielian. Physical and Psychological Health Following Military Sexual Assault: Recommendations for Care, Research, and Policy . Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2013. http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP382 Firestone, Juanita M., J. M. Miller, and Richard Harris. "Implications for Criminal Justice from the 2002 and 2006 Department of Defense Gender Relations and Sexual Harassment Surveys." American Journal of Criminal Justice : AJCJ 37, no. 3 (2012): 432-451. Gibson, Carolyn J., Kristen E. Gray, Jodie G. Katon, Tracy L. Simpson, and Keren Lehavot. "Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Physical Victimization during Military Service across Age Cohorts of Women Veterans." Women's Health Issues 26, no. 2 (2016): 225-231. Harrell, Margaret C., Laura Werber, Marisa Adelson, Sarah J. Gaillot, Charlotte Lynch and Amanda Pomeroy. A Compendium of Sexual Assault Research . Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2009. http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR617 Holland, Kathryn, Rabelo, Verónica, and Cortina, Lilia. Sexual Assault Training in the Military: Evaluating Efforts to End the 'Invisible War.' American Journal of Community Psychology 54, no. 3/4 (2014): 289-303. Morral, Andrew R., Kristie Gore, and Terry L. Schell. Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military, Volume 1. Design of the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study . Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, National Defense Research Institute, 2014. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9841.html Morral, Andrew R., Kristie Gore, and Terry L. Schell. Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. military: Volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense Service members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study . Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, National Defense Research Institute, 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR870z2-1.html O'Brien, Carol, Jessica Keith, and Lisa Shoemaker. "Don't Tell: Military Culture and Male Rape." Psychological Services 12, no. 4 (2015): 357-365. Stander, Valeria A. and Cynthia J. Thomsen. "Sexual Harassment and Assault in the U.S. Military: A Review of Policy and Research Trends." AMSUS Military Medicine (Association of Military Surgeons of the United States) 181, no. 1S (2016): 20-27. This chronological list of hearings was compiled from Congress.gov and CQ.com. U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee, A Review of Sexual Misconduct by Basic Training Instructors at Lackland Air Force Base , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., January 23, 2013, H.A.S.C. No. 113-2 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for 2014 , Part 1, 113th Cong., 1 st sess., February 26, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel, Testimony on Sexual Assault in the Military, 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., March 13, 2013, S. Hrg. 113-303 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 , 113th Cong., 1 st sess., April 17, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for 2014, Part 2 , 113th Cong., 1 st sess., April 24, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 , 113th Cong., 1 st sess., April 24, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, President Obama's Fiscal 2014 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., May 7, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, D epartment of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 and the Future Years Defense Program , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., May 7, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, President Obama's Fiscal 2014 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Army , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., May 8, 2013. (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, President Obama's Fiscal 2014 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Air Force , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., May 8, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, President Obama's Fiscal 2014 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Air Force , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., May 9, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 , 113th Cong., 1 st sess., May 22, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Pending Legislation Regarding Sexual Assaults in the Military , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., June 4, 2013, S. Hrg. 113–320 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel, Markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., June 11, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 , 113th Cong., 1 st sess., June 11, 2013 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Women in Service Review s , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., July 24, 2013, H.A.S.C. No. 113–50 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress , Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel, The Relationships Between Military Sexual Assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Suicide, and on Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Treatment and Management of Victims of Sexual Trauma , 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., February 26, 2014, S. Hrg. 113-480 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013) . U.S. Congress, Armed Services Committee , Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense , 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 6 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee, Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Navy , 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 12 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for 2015, Part 1 , 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 13, 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee , Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Air Force , 113 th Cong ., 2 nd sess., March 14, 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee , Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Army , 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 25 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense , Department of Defense Appropriations for 2015 , 113th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 26 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee , Department of Defense Appropriations for 2015 , Part 2, 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., April 2, 2014, (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense , Department of Defense Appropriations for 2015 , 113th Cong., 2 nd sess., April 2 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee , National Defense Priorities from the Members for the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act , 113 th Cong ., 2 nd sess., April 9 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 , 113th Cong., 2 nd sess., April 9, 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 , 113th Cong., 2 nd sess., April 30, 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense , Department of Defense Appropriations for 2015 , 113th Cong., 2 nd sess., June 18 , 2014 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee , Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program , Part 1 , 114th Cong., 1 st sess., March 3 , 10 , 12 , 18 , 19, 26, April 4, 30 , 2015 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services , Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program , Part 7 Strategic Forces, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., March 4, 25, April 15, 22, 29 , 2015 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program , Part 3 Readiness and Management Support, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., March 11, 25, April 22, 2015 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, The Current State of Readiness of U.S. Forces in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program , 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., March 25, 2015 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017 and the Future Years Defense Program , Part 1 , 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., February 11, 23, March 3, 10, 15, 17, April 5, 7, 26, 2016 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee, The Fiscal Year 2017 Na tional Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense , 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., March 22, 2016 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, The Current State of Research, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury , 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., April 20, 2016 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 on H.R.1960 with Additional and Dissenting Views, 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 113-102 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2014 to Accompany H.R. 2397 together with Additional Views, 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 113-113 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to accompany S. 1197, 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., S. Rept. 113-44 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2014 to accompany S.1429, 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., S. Rept. 113-85 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, First Annual Report on the Activities of the Committee on Armed Services for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress , 113 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 113-309 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2013). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 to accompany H.R.4435, 113 th Cong, 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 113-446 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 supplemental report to accompany H.R.4435, 113 th Cong. 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 113-446 part 2 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Carl Levin National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 to accompany S.2410, 113 th Cong, 2 nd sess., S. Rept. 113-176 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2015 to accompany H.R.4870, 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 113-473 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2015 to accompany H.R.4870, 113 th Cong., 2 nd sess., S. Rept. 113-211 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2014). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Service, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to accompany H.R.1735, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 114-102 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to accompany S.1376, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., S. Rept. 114-49 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2016 to accompany H.R.2685, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 114-139 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2016 to accompany S.1558, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., S. Rept. 114-63 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, House Conference Report, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to accompany H.R.1735, 114 th Cong., 1 st sess., H. Rept. 114-270 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2015). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 on H.R.4909, 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 114-537 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to accompany S.2943, 114 th Cong, 2 nd sess., S. Rept. 114-255 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2017 to accompany H.R.5293, 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 114-577 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2017 to accompany S.3000, 114 th Cong., 2 nd sess., S. Rept. 114-263 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016). U.S. Congress, House Conference Report, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to accompany S. 2943, 114 th Cong, 2 nd sess., H. Rept. 114-840 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2016).

Question: Write a one-page summary of the report 1.

Answer: One of the goals of federal criminal restitution is to restore victims of federal crimes to the position they occupied before the crime was committed by providing compensation. Various entities within the federal government are involved in the process of requesting, ordering, and collecting restitution for crime victims, including DOJ and the judiciary. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 includes a provision for GAO to review the federal criminal restitution process for fiscal years 2014 through 2016. This report addresses, among other things: (1) the extent to which information is available on restitution requested by DOJ and ordered by courts; (2) the amount of restitution debt DOJ collected and the amount that remains outstanding; and, (3) the extent to which DOJ has conducted oversight on the collection of restitution. GAO analyzed laws, policies and procedures as well as USSC data on restitution orders and DOJ data on restitution collected from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. GAO also selected a non-generalizable sample of six federal judicial districts based on restitution collections and spoke with USAO officials and federal probation officers. Officials from selected U.S. Attorney's Offices (USAO) stated that they document requests for restitution in case files and employ other internal controls, such as the use of templates and forms, throughout the prosecution process to ensure that prosecutors request restitution as appropriate. GAO's analysis of U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) data—an agency within the judiciary—showed that information on restitution orders was available for 95 percent of all offenders sentenced from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. Specifically, 214,578 federal offenders were sentenced during this time period and restitution was ordered for 33,158, or 15 percent, of those offenders. Collectively, courts ordered these offenders to pay $33.9 billion in restitution. Most federal offenders sentenced during these years were sentenced for immigration or drug-related offenses. In interviews, USAO officials stated that these offenses do not typically have victims requiring restitution. GAO found that data on reasons why restitution was not ordered were incomplete for 5 percent of all offenders sentenced from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. Determining why data on restitution orders are incomplete may inform the judiciary of the cause of the incomplete data and any efforts needed to improve USSC data. GAO's analysis of Department of Justice (DOJ) data showed that USAOs collected $2.95 billion in restitution debt in fiscal years 2014 through 2016, see figure below. However, at the end of fiscal year 2016, $110 billion in previously ordered restitution remained outstanding, and USAOs identified $100 billion of that outstanding debt as uncollectible due to offenders' inability to pay. DOJ identified improving debt collection—including restitution—as a major management initiative in its 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. While DOJ is developing analytical tools to monitor the collection of restitution, it has not established performance measures or goals. Performance measures and goals would allow DOJ to gauge USAOs' success in collecting restitution and, by extension, the department's success in achieving a major management initiative. GAO is making three recommendations. GAO is making one to the judiciary to determine why data on restitution orders are incomplete. GAO is making two recommendations to DOJ, including one to implement performance measures and goals for the collection of restitution. The judiciary and DOJ concurred with the recommendations.