- Values that are the ideas or beliefs to which an individual or group aspires.
- Morals that relate to making decisions between right and wrong.
- Ethics that articulate standards of behavior reflecting values or morals.
- Professional ethics that are a set of standards based on proven and sound principles of conduct and quality of service.
- Safeguards the reputation of the profession.
- Protects the victim from exploitation.
- Furthers the competent and responsible practice of the profession.
- Establishes the foundation for the practice of victim advocacy.
- Helps guide decision-making.
- Promotes the welfare and protection of victims.
- Informs the public about advocates’ ethical behavior.
- Relationships with clients.
- Relationships with colleagues, other professionals and the public.
- Expectations for professional conduct.
- Prepare victims for what to expect and advocate on their behalf.
- Help victims get medical care, counseling services, legal and spiritual support, and off-base resources.
- Reporting is encouraged, regardless of whether a report is restricted or unrestricted. Restricted reports are confidential but not anonymous; unrestricted reports are shared with the commander of the reporting location and investigated by the Military Criminal Investigation Organization. Service members who file an unrestricted report may opt for an expedited transfer from their unit and/or installation. For more information, visit https://sapr.mil/reporting-options.
- DOD Safe Helpline is free, anonymous, confidential and available 24/7 worldwide. Victims can call, text or chat to get up-to-date contact information for resources including SARCs, SAPR VAs, chaplains, special victims counsel/victims legal counsel, medical personnel and military police. For more information, visit https://www.safehelpline.org/.
- Special victims counsel/victims legal counsel are experienced trial attorneys who understand the legal process and can guide victims through the judicial process. For more information, visit https://sapr.mil/svc-vlc.
- Victims Bill of Rights guarantees a victim’s rights per DOD Directive 1030.01. For more information, visit https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/103001p.pdf.
- Victim/witness assistance program gives victims a voice and keeps them informed of their investigation and prosecution status. For more information, visit https://sapr.mil/vwap.
BOSS Resources
Whether you are a BOSS Representative or a BOSS Team Member, these valuable resources are here to help make your Garrison BOSS Program Better!
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Ethics of Victim Advocacy
Ethical decision-making is a skill that you can acquire. With training, you can learn to think through common ethical dilemmas. First, you must assess your values, moral orientation and personal bias to determine how these elements influence how you make decisions.
Ethical standards for victim assistance providers are based on core values and intended as guidelines that apply to a range of issues that providers encounter when providing services to victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Ethics in victim services consist of the following:
Having a professional code of ethics:
A code of ethics:
Three areas of focus:
Responsibilities of Army Victim Advocates
Sexual assault response coordinators (SARCs) and sexual assault prevention and response victim advocates (VAs):
Assistance and Services Available
