Victim and Witness Assistance Program - S-1 Procedural Overview

Role and responsibility

The Headquarters Marine Corps Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) Director at the Judge Advocate Division Military Justice Branch (JMJ) owns program-level execution per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4. The COMMARFORCOM, COMMARFORRES, and regional Marine Corps Installations (MCI) Commanding Generals appoint the Regional Victim Witness Liaison Officer (RVWLO) in writing per paragraph 040902(A)(1). The installation commander appoints the Installation Victim Witness Liaison Officer (IVWLO) per paragraph 040902(B)(2). The unit commander appoints the Victim Witness Assistance Coordinator (VWAC) in writing per paragraph 040902(C)(1). The trial counsel and the Legal Services Support Team (LSST) VWAC coordinate the legal community lead per paragraph 040904. The Victims Legal Counsel Organization (VLCO) provides counsel to eligible victims per MCO 5800.16 Volume 4 and 10 U.S.C. 1044e. The S-1 officer and S-1 chief support unit VWAC execution.

Source documents flow from the offense reporting record, the law enforcement initial contact with the victim and witness, the DD Form 2701 provided at first contact per paragraph 040905, the preferral of charges, the trial counsel disposition decision, the DD Forms 2702 and 2703 issued at preferral and post-trial per paragraph 040904, the DD Form 2704 election for confinement notification, the confinement facility records, the quarterly VWAP data submission per paragraph 040902(D)(4), and the annual training records. VWAP outputs include the appointed RVWLO, IVWLO, and VWAC, the issued DD Forms 2701-2705, the Victim and Witness Assistance Council meeting minutes, the quarterly VWAP data report to JMJ, the annual unit training, and the audit trail for IGMC inspection.

Per Chapter 4 paragraph 040902(B)(4), the installation commander establishes a local Victim and Witness Assistance Council chaired by the IVWLO. Per paragraph 040903(B)(5), the IVWLO chairs a quarterly installation-level Council meeting. Per paragraph 040904(F)(2), the trial counsel or LSST VWAC provides victims and witnesses DD Form 2702 after preferral of charges and determines their rights elections.

Sub-pages in this category

• Confinement Facility Notifications. Chapter 4 paragraph 040906 covering brig and PCF VWAC duties, DD Form 2705 notifications, and 2-year post-release retention.
• Installation and Regional Liaison Officers. Chapter 4 paragraphs 040902 and 040903 covering RVWLO, IVWLO appointments, Victim and Witness Assistance Council, and quarterly meetings.
• Law Enforcement Coordination. Chapter 4 paragraph 040905 covering Law Enforcement VWAC, DD Form 2701 issuance, and annual VWAP training.
• Legal Community and Trial Counsel. Chapter 4 paragraph 040904 covering LSST VWAC, trial counsel duties, DD Forms 2702-2704, separate waiting areas, and post-trial coordination.
• Marine and Family Services Coordination. Chapter 4 paragraph 040907 covering MF representative, victim resource referrals, and DD Form 2701 distribution at counseling.
• Unit Commander and VWAC. Chapter 4 paragraph 040902(C) and 040902(D) covering unit VWAC appointment, annual unit training, and the VWAC role.
• Victim Rights and Notifications. DD Forms 2701-2705 distribution, victim rights under 18 U.S.C. 3771, NJP victim notifications per Chapter 4 paragraph 040401.Y, and post-trial submissions per Rule for Courts-Martial 1105.

Trigger events

• Crime victim or witness identified during incident reporting.
• Law enforcement first contact triggering DD Form 2701 issuance per paragraph 040905.
• Charge sheet preferral triggering DD Form 2702 issuance per paragraph 040904(F)(2).
• Court-martial milestone (Article 32, trial, sentence, post-trial) triggering notifications per paragraph 040904(F)(3).
• Conviction triggering DD Form 2703 issuance per paragraph 040904(F)(10).
• Confinement adjudication triggering DD Form 2704 per paragraph 040904(F)(11).
• Inmate status change triggering DD Form 2705 per paragraph 040906(A)(6).
• Quarterly VWAP data reporting cycle to JMJ per paragraph 040903(A)(5).
• Semi-annual Regional VWLO meeting per paragraph 040903(A)(7).
• Quarterly installation Victim and Witness Assistance Council meeting per paragraph 040903(B)(5).
• IGMC VWAP FA inspection notice arrives.

Processing workflow

1. Appoint VWAP personnel. Per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 paragraphs 040902(A)(1), 040902(B)(2), and 040902(C)(1), the COMMARFORCOM/COMMARFORRES/MCI CG appoints the RVWLO. The installation commander appoints the IVWLO. The unit commander appoints the VWAC. Appointments record name, title, duty address, and telephone number.
2. Identify victims and witnesses at offense reporting. Law enforcement provides the DD Form 2701 with installation-specific contact information per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b). Tracking runs through the Law Enforcement VWAC.
3. Coordinate Victims Legal Counsel referral. Per MCO 5800.16 Volume 4 and 10 U.S.C. 1044e, eligible victims receive notice of the right to consult Victims Legal Counsel. Trial counsel notifies victims of the right before interviews per paragraph 040904(F)(3).
4. Issue DD Form 2702 at preferral. Per paragraph 040904(F)(2), trial counsel or LSST VWAC provides victims and witnesses the DD Form 2702 (Court-Martial Information for Victims and Witnesses of Crime) after preferral. The form captures the rights elections.
5. Issue notifications at trial milestones. Per paragraph 040904(F)(3), trial counsel notifies victims and witnesses at trial events and procedural milestones. If a victim has VLC, notifications route through the VLC.
6. Issue DD Form 2703 post-conviction. Per paragraph 040904(F)(10), at the conclusion of a court-martial resulting in conviction, trial counsel informs victims and witnesses about the post-trial process and provides a completed DD Form 2703 (Post-Trial Information for Victims and Witnesses).
7. Issue DD Form 2704 in confinement cases. Per paragraph 040904(F)(11), at the conclusion of every court-martial in which confinement is adjudged, trial counsel completes DD Form 2704 and provides copies to the confinement facility, victim and witnesses entitled to a copy, and responsible VWACs.
8. Process DD Form 2705 inmate status notifications. Per paragraph 040906(A)(6), the confinement facility VWAC notifies victims and witnesses of release, transfer, escape, and other status changes through DD Form 2705 at least 45 days prior to status change via certified mail with return receipt.
9. Provide NJP victim notifications. Per Chapter 4 paragraph 040401.Y, victims receive notification of decisions to dispose at NJP, the time and location of NJP, and the findings and sentence imposed.
10. Maintain quarterly data. Per paragraph 040902(D)(4), the unit VWAC maintains data on the number of victims and witnesses receiving DD Form 2701 and reports the total to the IVWLO quarterly. Per paragraph 040903(A)(5), the RVWLO compiles regional VWAP data and forwards to JMJ on a quarterly basis.
11. Conduct annual training. Per paragraph 040902(D)(8), the VWAC obtains and distributes VWAP materials and provides VWAP training to unit members annually. Per paragraph 040903(B)(7), the IVWLO provides annual training to VWACs.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Electronic Military Justice Case Management System. Per paragraph 040904(E)(3). Tracks VWAP data for each victim and witness.
• Corrections Management Information System (CORMIS). Per paragraph 040906(A)(5). Tracks confinement facility victim and witness contacts.
• Marine Corps Trial Services Office (TSO) and LSST Records. Hold court-martial victim and witness data.
• Unit VWAP Files. Hold the unit appointment letter, training records, and DD Form 2701 distribution data.
• Installation VWAP Website. Per paragraph 040903(B)(6). Holds the directory of VWAP personnel, programs, and services.

Forms

• DD Form 2701 Initial Information for Victims and Witnesses. Provided at first law enforcement contact per paragraph 040905.
• DD Form 2702 Court-Martial Information for Victims and Witnesses. Provided at preferral per paragraph 040904(F)(2).
• DD Form 2703 Post-Trial Information for Victims and Witnesses. Provided at post-conviction per paragraph 040904(F)(10).
• DD Form 2704 Victim and Witness Certification of Notification. Completed at confinement adjudication per paragraph 040904(F)(11).
• DD Form 2705 Notification of Inmate Status. Issued by confinement facility VWAC per paragraph 040906(A)(6).
• RVWLO Appointment Letter. Per paragraph 040902(A)(1).
• IVWLO Appointment Letter. Per paragraph 040902(B)(2).
• VWAC Appointment Letter. Per paragraph 040902(C)(1).

Common pitfalls

• VWAC not appointed in writing. Per Chapter 4 paragraph 040902(C)(1), the unit commander appoints in writing with name, title, duty address, and telephone number.
• DD Form 2701 not provided at first law enforcement contact. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), the form provides at first contact with installation-specific information.
• DD Form 2702 not provided after preferral. Per paragraph 040904(F)(2), trial counsel or LSST VWAC provides at preferral.
• Trial counsel not routing notifications through VLC when victim has counsel. Per paragraph 040904(F)(3), the VLC carries the channel.
• Separate waiting area not provided during court-martial. Per paragraph 040904(F)(6), trial counsel ensures a waiting area separate from and out of sight and hearing of the accused and defense witnesses.
• DD Form 2705 notification past the 45-day window. Per paragraph 040906(A)(6), the notification runs at least 45 days prior to status change via certified mail.
• Quarterly data not forwarded to JMJ. Per paragraph 040903(A)(5), the RVWLO forwards quarterly.
• Annual VWAC training skipped. Per paragraph 040902(D)(8), annual training is required.
• Council meetings not held quarterly at installation level or semi-annually at regional level. Per paragraphs 040903(A)(7) and 040903(B)(5), the cadence is required.
• NJP victim notifications skipped. Per Chapter 4 paragraph 040401.Y, the three notifications (disposition, time and location, findings) are required.

Decision points

• VWAC selection. Per paragraph 040902(D)(1), the VWAC is an officer, SNCO, or civilian member of the commander's staff of appropriate experience, temperament, and rank.
• VLC referral. The victim elects consultation. Per 10 U.S.C. 1044e and Volume 4, the VLC carries the legal counsel role.
• Pretrial confinement notification election. Per paragraph 040902(D)(7), the victim elects notification of changes in pretrial confinement status.
• Post-trial appeal information election. Per paragraph 040904(F)(13)(b), the victim elects further information and updates regarding appeals.

Authority

This category sits under MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 (Victim and Witness Assistance Program) paragraphs 040902 through 040907 and Chapter 4 paragraph 040401.Y (NJP Victim Notification). MCO 5800.16 Volume 4 (Marine Corps Victims Legal Counsel Organization) covers VLC. DODI 1030.2 sets DoD VWAP procedures. DODD 1030.01 sets DoD VWAP framework. 18 U.S.C. 3771 (Crime Victims Rights Act) sets statutory victim rights. 10 U.S.C. 1044e covers Special Victims Counsel. Manual for Courts-Martial 2024 Rule for Courts-Martial 1105 covers victim submission of matters at post-trial action. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0102-GENA-1011. The IGMC VWAP FA Checklist covers Installation Commanders (Section 01.0), RVWLO (02.0), IVWLO (03.0), Legal Community (04.0), Law Enforcement (05.0), Corrections (06.0), Marine and Family Services (07.0), Unit Commanders (08.0), and VWAC (09.0).

Related references

• MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4. VWAP framework.
• MCO 5800.16 Volume 4. VLCO framework.
• DODI 1030.2 and DODD 1030.01. DoD VWAP framework.
• 18 U.S.C. 3771. Crime Victims Rights Act.
• 10 U.S.C. 1044e. Special Victims Counsel.
• Manual for Courts-Martial 2024 Rule for Courts-Martial 1105. Victim post-trial submissions.
• DD Forms 2701-2705. VWAP standard forms.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0102-GENA-1011.
• IGMC VWAP FA Checklist. Audit baseline.