Review of the Navy and Marine Corps Policies Covering Sexual Harassment Complaint Processes

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Date Issued

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Submitting OIG

Department of Defense OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of Defense OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Defense

Report Number

DODIG-2024-071

Report Type

Review

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0001.a	No	$0	$0
Rec. 1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that Chief of Naval Operations develop and implement policies or processes to develop and implement policies or processes to ensure that the steps taken to dismiss a sexual harassment complaint are fully documented and retained in command files, including the opinions or concurrences of the Military Equal Opportunity and legal advisors.
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0001.b	No	$0	$0
Rec. 1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that Chief of Naval Operations develop and implement policies or processes to develop and implement policies or processes to formalize the complaint withdrawal process to ensure the complainant's decision to voluntarily withdraw their complaint is fully documented and free from improper influence by command leadership or other entities.
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0001.d	No	$0	$0
Rec. 1.d: The DoD OIG recommended that Chief of Naval Operations develop and implement policies or processes to develop and implement policies or processes to ensure that complaints involving severe and pervasive allegations of sexual harassment are not directed to and resolved through the informal resolution process.
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0002.a1	No	$0	$0
Rec. 2.a.1: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commandant of the Marine Corps develop and implement policies or processes to ensure that the steps taken to dismiss or downgrade a sexual harassment complaint are fully documented and retained in command files, including the opinions or concurrences of the Military Equal Opportunity and legal advisors.
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0003.a	No	$0	$0
Rec. 3.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the DoD Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion clarify in policy whether Military Service commanders with complaint jurisdiction have the authority to downgrade a formal sexual harassment complaint to an informal complaint.
D-2024-4071-D0DIEM-0001-0003.b	No	$0	$0
Rec. 3.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the DoD Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion modify DoD Instruction 1020.03 to require the Military Services to collect and annually report data on withdrawn and dismissed sexual harassment complaints.