DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 008/02
ALMARS : 008/02
R 120845Z FEB 02 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 008/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRM//
SUBJ/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE//
RMKS/1. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2001, THE MARINE CORPS EXPERIENCED
1,700 SUBSTANTIATED INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (1,062 INCIDENTS
OF SPOUSE ABUSE AND 638 INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE). SIMPLY STATED,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS!
SUCH BEHAVIOR IS AN OFFENSE TO OUR CORE VALUES. ACCORDINGLY,
LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS ARE CHARGED TO AGGRESSIVELY TAKE THE
APPROPRIATE STEPS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROTECT VICTIMS, AND
HOLD THOSE WHO COMMIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACCOUNTABLE.
2. COMMANDERS SHALL, IN APPROPRIATE ABUSE CASES, INITIATE
ADMINISTRATIVE OR DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS TO HOLD OFFENDERS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. FURTHER, ALL INCIDENTS OF ABUSIVE
BEHAVIOR SHALL BE REPORTED TO THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM. IF AN
OFFENDER IS CONSIDERED NOT TO HAVE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER MILITARY
SERVICE, COMMANDERS SHOULD INITIATE SEPARATION PROCEDURES.
3. THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS THE COMMANDER'S PRIMARY TOOL TO
PREVENT, INTERVENE, AND TREAT ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR WITHIN FAMILIES.
EARLY INTERVENTION IS CRITICAL. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL ENSURE
THAT EVERY REPORT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS INVESTIGATED, AND THAT
VICTIMS ARE AFFORDED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
4. TO MEET THESE CRITICAL GOALS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR
COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE. ALL MARINES AND FAMILY MEMBERS
MUST BE MADE AWARE OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR THE PREVENTION
OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH FAMILY ADVOCACY. INCLUSION
OF THIS INFORMATION IN BASE WELCOME ABOARD BRIEFS, ON COMMAND CABLE,
AND THROUGH THE TROOP INFORMATION PROGRAM IS NEEDED.
5. POINTS OF CONTACT ARE YOUR LOCAL INSTALLATION MARINE CORPS
COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS) FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE
MCCS WEB SITE, WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
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