It’s critical to move the prosecution and resolution of cases outside the chain of command
May 08, 2013The following is a statement by Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:
“Recent events have demonstrated that the military justice system itself is a key actor in the Department of Defense’s inability to stem the tide of sexual assaults. The decisions by two Air Force commanding generals to overturn court martial sexual assault convictions are prime examples. Time and again survivors of sexual assault say they are unwilling to come forward because they have no confidence in the military justice system. According to DOD’s own figures, there were only 3, 374 actual reports of sexual assaults last year – out of an estimated 26,000 such assaults.
“Although Secretary of Defense Hagel has recommended that Congress amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to remove the authority of commanders to overturn court martial convictions, his recommendation does not go far enough. Indeed, DOD continues to focus its prevention efforts on training rather than accountability. Until the authority to investigate, prosecute, and finally convict and mete out punishment for military crimes is taken outside the chain of command, there will be no accountability. It’s past time to hold the military justice system itself accountable for sexual assault.”
###