military struggles root out sexual assaults

#Military struggles root out sexual assaults code

About 36 percent of convicted sex offenders remained in the Armed Forces in fiscal 2011, according to the most recent Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. Previously the rule in the Navy, it is being expanded across the services. Separating convicted sex offenders from the military.

Although a similar policy was put in place in 2009, prospective recruits could receive waivers to get around the ban. Prohibiting the recruiting of anyone convicted of felony sexual assault, through an amendment introduced by Sen. The Army and Air Force have made the most progress toward this end, but the other services lag behind. “Some kind of reform - some kind of regular examination - is definitely warranted because it’s a closed system.”Ĭreating special victims units for all services to improve investigation, prosecution and victim support in sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence cases.

The UCMJ’s last major overhaul was in the 1980s, when it was rewritten to incorporate federal rules of evidence, he said. “It’s a great idea,” Jacob said, “because of the insular nature of military law, it’s always a good idea to bring the light of day to it.” The panel will also examine how the military’s laws and justice system reflect current legal thought and theory. It would meet every six months and look at individual cases and provide feedback on how the cases are prosecuted. The Secretary of Defense would appoint private citizens to the panel, who would have expertise in the prosecution of sexual assault in both military and civilian law. “Its job is not to reform the UCMJ but to make sure that it stays constitutional,” said Greg Jacob, policy director for Service Women’s Action Network, a New York City women veterans’ rights advocacy group.

#Military struggles root out sexual assaults code

The precedent-setting move is significant because it allows judicial review of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by civilians.Īlthough the military has a similar oversight panel, the Joint Services Committee is made up of legal experts from within each branch of the armed forces. The five-person review board, composed of civilians, will examine sexual assault cases and make reports and recommendations on how the military should prosecute these crimes. Advocates say one of the biggest victories was the creation of an independent review panel that will closely examine the way the Defense Department investigates and prosecutes sexual assault cases.