---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1599j"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1599j"
heading: "Restricted reports of incidents of adult sexual assault"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1599j"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 81 — Civilian Employees"
---

# §1599j. Restricted reports of incidents of adult sexual assault

- (a) **Restricted Reports.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may provide a civilian employee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense an opportunity to submit to an individual described in [subsection (d)](#d) a restricted report of an alleged incident of adult sexual assault for the purpose of assisting the employee in obtaining information and access to authorized victim support services provided by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6).
- (b) **Restrictions on Disclosures and Initiating Investigations.—** Unless the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines that a disclosure is necessary to prevent or mitigate a serious and imminent safety threat to the employee submitting the report or to another [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), a restricted report submitted pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall not—
  - (1) be disclosed to the supervisor of the employee or any other management official; or
  - (2) cause the initiation of a Federal civil or criminal investigation.
- (c) **Duties Under Other Laws.—** The receipt of a restricted report submitted under [subsection (a)](#a) shall not be construed as imputing actual or constructive knowledge of an alleged incident of sexual assault to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense for any purpose.
- (d) **Individuals Authorized to Receive Restricted Reports.—** An individual described in this subsection is an individual who performs victim advocate duties under a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for one or more of the following purposes (or any other [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3)):
  - (1) Sexual assault prevention and [response](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
  - (2) Victim advocacy.
  - (3) Equal employment opportunity.
  - (4) Workplace violence prevention and [response](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
  - (5) Employee assistance.
  - (6) Family advocacy.
- (e) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) **Civilian employee.—** The term “civilian employee” has the meaning given the term “employee” in [section 2105 of title 5](/usc/5/2105.md).
  - (2) **Sexual assault.—** The term “sexual assault” has the meaning given that term in [section 920 of this title](/usc/10/920.md) (article 120 of the Uniform Code of [Military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) Justice), and [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) penetrative offenses and sexual contact offenses.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title XI, § 1101(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2815.)