VWAP Law Enforcement Coordination - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

Each law enforcement agency or office aboard the installation appoints a Law Enforcement VWAC to serve on the Victim Witness Assistance Council per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 paragraph 040905(A)(1). The Law Enforcement VWAC provides DD Form 2701 (Initial Information for Victims and Witnesses) with installation-specific contact information at first contact per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b). The agency tracks DD Form 2701 distribution and reports totals to the Installation Victim Witness Liaison Officer (IVWLO) per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b). Law enforcement personnel complete annual VWAP training per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(c). The IVWLO chairs the installation Council where the Law Enforcement VWAC participates.

Source documents flow from the offense report, the victim and witness identification at first contact, the DD Form 2701 issuance with installation-specific contacts, the agency tracking record, the IVWLO reporting, and the annual training records. Law enforcement coordination outputs include the appointed Law Enforcement VWAC, the DD Form 2701 issued to each victim and witness, the agency tracking data, the quarterly report to the IVWLO, the annual training completion, and the Council participation record.

Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), victims and witnesses receive DD Form 2701 with accurate contact information for the specific installation. The DD Form 2701 informs victims and witnesses of the rights under 18 U.S.C. 3771 (Crime Victims Rights Act) and identifies local resources.

Trigger events

• Law enforcement agency stands up triggering Law Enforcement VWAC appointment.
• First contact with a victim or witness during incident reporting.
• Quarterly DD Form 2701 distribution report to IVWLO.
• Annual VWAP training cycle.
• Council meeting cycle requiring Law Enforcement VWAC participation.
• Trial counsel preferral triggering handoff from law enforcement to legal community.
• IGMC VWAP FA inspection covers Law Enforcement (Section 05.0).

Processing workflow

1. Appoint the Law Enforcement VWAC. Per MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 paragraph 040905(A)(1), each law enforcement agency (NCIS, PMO, CID, or other) or office aboard the installation appoints a Law Enforcement VWAC to serve on the Victim Witness Assistance Council.
2. Provide DD Form 2701 at first contact. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), victims and witnesses receive DD Form 2701 containing accurate installation-specific contact information at first contact.
3. Track DD Form 2701 distribution. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), the Law Enforcement VWAC tracks the number of forms distributed.
4. Report quarterly to the IVWLO. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), the Law Enforcement VWAC reports DD Form 2701 totals to the IVWLO quarterly.
5. Conduct annual VWAP training. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(c), law enforcement agencies conduct annual training on the requirements of the VWAP and applicable orders regarding the treatment of victims and witnesses.
6. Participate in the Council. Per paragraph 040902(B)(4), the Law Enforcement VWAC participates in the local Victim and Witness Assistance Council.
7. Coordinate handoff to trial counsel. At preferral of charges, law enforcement coordinates with trial counsel for the handoff. Trial counsel issues DD Form 2702 per paragraph 040904(F)(2) and continues the rights notification process.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Law Enforcement Agency Case Management System (NCIS RLSO, PMO, CID, or other).
• Law Enforcement VWAC Distribution Tracker. Local file documenting DD Form 2701 issuance.
• Victim and Witness Assistance Council. Per paragraph 040902(B)(4).

Forms

• DD Form 2701 Initial Information for Victims and Witnesses. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b).
• Law Enforcement VWAC Appointment Letter. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1).
• Quarterly Distribution Report. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b).
• Annual VWAP Training Record. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(c).

Common pitfalls

• DD Form 2701 issued without installation-specific contact information. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), accurate installation-specific contact information is required.
• DD Form 2701 distribution not tracked. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), tracking and reporting to the IVWLO is required.
• Annual VWAP training skipped. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(c), annual training runs for law enforcement personnel.
• Law Enforcement VWAC appointment missing. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1), each agency appoints.
• Council participation skipped. Per paragraph 040902(B)(4), the Law Enforcement VWAC participates in the local Council.
• Handoff to trial counsel missed at preferral. The DD Form 2701 to DD Form 2702 handoff continues victim notification.

Decision points

• DD Form 2701 versus subsequent forms. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(b), DD Form 2701 issues at first law enforcement contact. Per paragraph 040904(F)(2), DD Form 2702 issues at preferral by trial counsel or LSST VWAC.
• Law enforcement agency selection at the installation. The installation's servicing law enforcement agency (NCIS, PMO, or other) determines the Law Enforcement VWAC appointment.
• Training timing. Per paragraph 040905(A)(1)(c), the annual cycle drives the cadence.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 paragraph 040905 (Law Enforcement Community) with sub-paragraphs (A)(1) (Law Enforcement VWAC), (A)(1)(b) (DD Form 2701 Installation Information and Tracking), and (A)(1)(c) (Annual VWAP Training). 18 U.S.C. 3771 (Crime Victims Rights Act) sets the underlying statutory victim rights identified on DD Form 2701. The IGMC VWAP FA Checklist Section 05.0 items 0501-0504 audit Law Enforcement Community compliance.

Related references

• MCO 5800.16 Chapter 4 paragraph 040905. Law Enforcement Community framework.
• 18 U.S.C. 3771. Crime Victims Rights Act.
• DD Form 2701. Initial information form.
• IGMC VWAP FA Checklist Section 05.0. Audit baseline.