Pros
I have nothing good to say.
Cons
If you are the victim of a crime or experience something illegal connected to NASA, do not blindly trust the internal process to protect you. In my experience, NASA has built relationships with local and federal agencies in a way that can push people right back into NASA’s own internal channels, including HR, the Inspector General, and Protective Services. The problem is that those offices may not have the authority, independence, or experience to properly handle serious criminal or legal issues. Once you are back inside that system, the priority can quickly become protecting the organization, managing liability, and controlling the narrative instead of protecting the person who was harmed. Victim intimidation is not just possible in that kind of environment. It should be expected. Once the organization is involved in controlling the process, the person reporting harm can end up pressured, isolated, discredited, or steered away from outside accountability. That is unacceptable. Victims should not be forced into a process where the organization involved gets to influence how the matter is handled. Internal offices are not a replacement for real legal protection, outside law enforcement, or independent legal counsel. If something illegal happens to you, talk to a lawyer first. Get independent advice. Have your attorney guide you through the appropriate outside agencies and legal channels. Do not assume NASA’s internal process is neutral, independent, or designed to protect you.
