The CATCH a Serial Offender Program has expanded to allow more entries. CATCH provides a confidential way to provide criminal investigators information about a sexual assault offender. Coast Guard and Department of Defense (DOD) investigators search for repeat offenders by comparing CATCH entries against other CATCH submissions, unrestricted reports, and other law enforcement databases.
In the past, only restricted reports were authorized to be added to the CATCH database. Now, CATCH expanded to allow entries for two more scenarios:
- Unrestricted reports where the name of the suspect is not reported to or uncovered by law enforcement or their command, and
- Instances in which the victim does not wish to or is not ready to file an official report of sexual assault but wants to participate in CATCH and has disclosed their sexual assault to a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or Victim Advocate Program Specialist (VAPS).
Eligible victims can request CATCH access through a SARC or a VAPS. Participation in the CATCH program is voluntary. If a “match” is made, the victim is offered the option of converting to an unrestricted report and pursuing the investigative process. Victims of sexual assault may choose to decline participation at any time in the process.
Eligible participants of the CATCH program, when the subject of the sexual assault is a current or former military member, are:
- Current and former active duty and reserve members and their adult dependents,
- Service members from all branches and their adult dependents,
- Coast Guard Academy cadets and Midshipmen and cadets at other military service academies,
- Current Coast Guard civilian employees.
“The expansion of CATCH aligns with DOD and provides victims more options so they can make the best decision for themselves,” said Megan Lee, a Coast Guard SAPRR Specialist. “This is one more step we’re taking to improve victim support and increase the probability of identifying and prosecuting offenders.”
-USCG-
Resources:
News: