The number of U.S. troops who reported that they had been sexually assaulted rose by 8 percent over the past year, Defense Department officials said, a statistic that will further fuel a debate in Congress over whether the military is effectively prosecuting sex crimes.
While most sexual-assault victims still are apparently unwilling to come forward, a Pentagon study that will be released Thursday found gradual progress in that area. The report estimates that 24 percent of all victims filed reports during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, up from 11 percent two years earlier, according to officials briefed on the details.
The Pentagon has been under pressure to show it has made progress in preventing and prosecuting sex offenses, amid threats by lawmakers that they may overhaul the military justice system and strip commanders of their power to oversee such cases
.
Advocates on both sides of the debate have been awaiting the results of the Pentagon’s annual report on sexual assault, which Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is scheduled to unveil Thursday. Military officials briefed the White House and members of Congress about the findings in advance.
Overall, more than 5,400 service members filed sexual-assault reports last year, up from about 5,000 the year before, according to defense officials. That came on top of an even sharper increase in 2013, when the Pentagon reported a 50 percent jump that shocked many lawmakers and advocacy groups.
Military leaders say the increase in reports is evidence not that crimes have become more prevalent, but that victims are more willing to trust the system and file reports.
Colleges, the military, the workplace…is there anywhere that sexual assault isn’t taking place? What is wrong with people? Where is the respect. Why do people need to be told not to push themselves on others?
Either there are a lot of sexual predators around or there are just a lot of people who simply don’t know the meaning of the word NO.
Yes, it’s everywhere. Where are the stories of the Democrat congressional staffer pleading guilty to rape yesterday? How about Obama best friend/multiple White House visitor/Air Force one passenger/mega donation bundler being charged with raping a child?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/11/20/kiah-lawson-terry-bean-human-rights-campaign-gay-sex-obama-prison-column/70021560/
Congress needs to strip military commanders of their authority to adjudicate such incidents.
Commanders don’t “adjudicate such incidents”. They prefer charges in cases not of a criminal nature. Those that are of a criminal nature are investigated by military law enforcement (CID, NIS) and if warranted a court-martial is convened. If the offense happened off-post, both civilian AND military justice systems can try the case, and it isn’t “double-jeopardy.
As a company-grade officer, I was assigned to investigate cases of a non-criminal nature, and I also had the occasion to be a Summary Courts-Martial Officer. Anything criminal would have immediately been in the hands of the Provost Marshall, and the Judge Advocate group. A commander who interfered could be disciplined for “undue command influence”. If congress needs to do anything, it is to make sure that there isn’t any retribution for those that report assaults, and commanders who are found to have exerted undue command influence are disciplined. The UCMJ has served our nation well, to date. Politicians need not meddle with it.
I’m with Steve Thomas on this-Starry’s comment reflects the lack of knowledge/understanding of the military justice system.
Problems in the submarine fleet? Some petty officer 2C on the USS Wyoming is alleged to have been taking clandestine photos of female officers in the ship’s shower and dressing areas and then sending the pics out to others. I believe this is the first sub having female crew aboard. My, oh, my, all this and that rabbi photographer in Metro DC too. Whatever are we coming to? Readily available porn must not be good enough anymore. Now they have to try to personalize it.