This rule finalizes policy, to assist victims and witnesses of crimes committed in violation the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and prescribes procedures for the rights of crime victims under the UCMJ. The rule also discusses notification of information and assistance available to victims and witnesses of crime from initial contact through investigation, prosecution, confinement, and release, annual reporting requirements on assistance provided across the DoD to victims of and witnesses to crime, and legal assistance for crime victims entitled to such services.

This rule also provides timely notification of information and assistance available to victims and witnesses of crime from initial contact through investigation, prosecution, confinement, and release, annual reporting requirements on assistance provided across the DoD to victims and witnesses of crime, and legal assistance for crime victims entitled to such services. The Military Services are required to provide legal counsel, known as Special Victims’ Counsel/Victims’ Legal Counsel (SVC/VLC), to assist victims of alleged sex-related offenses under Articles 120, 120(a), 120(b), 120(c), and 125 of the UCMJ, who are eligible for legal assistance. The Military Services are also required to establish a special victim capability comprised of specially trained criminal investigators, judge advocates, paralegals, and victim/witness assistance personnel to support victims of covered special victim offenses. To de-conflict with Special Victims’ Counsel” programs, this distinct group of recognizable professionals will be referred to, at the DoD level, as the Special Victim Investigation and Prosecution (SVIP)” capability.