NCJ Number
234622
Date Published
June 2011
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This study was done in response to a request by the U.S. House Committee on Veteran's Affairs that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine whether or not sexual assaults in facilities operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are fully reported and what factors may contribute to any observed underreporting; how facility staff determine sexual assault-related risks veterans may pose in residential and inpatient mental health settings; and precautions facilities take to prevent sexual assaults and other safety incidents.
Abstract
GAO found that many of the nearly 300 sexual assaults reported to the VA police between January 2007 and July 2010 were not reported to VA leadership officials and the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG). In addition, GAO identified several factors that may contribute to the underreporting of sexual assaults, including unclear guidance and deficiencies in VA's oversight. The VA does not have risk-assessment tools designed to examine sexual assault-related risks veterans may pose. VA facilities visited used a variety of precautions intended to prevent sexual assaults and other safety-related incidents; however, GAO found that some of these measures were deficient, compromising facilities' efforts to prevent sexual assaults and other safety incidents. Facilities often used patient-oriented precautions, such as placing electronic flags on high-risk veterans' medical records or increasing staff observation of veterans who pose risks to others. These VA facilities also used physical security precautions, such as closed-circuit surveillance cameras to actively monitor units, locks, and alarms to secure key areas, as well as police assistance when incidents occurred. Still, GAO found significant weaknesses in the implementation of physical security precautions, including poor monitoring of surveillance cameras, alarm system malfunctions, and the failure of alarms to alert both VA police and clinical staff when triggered. 8 tables, 3 figures, and appended overview of study scope and methodology, analysis of VA police reports of sexual assaults (January 2007-July 2010), and comments from the Department of Veterans Affairs