Tag: Sexual Assault

Unusual Suspects Premiered ‘Vanished in Reno’ on Investigation Discovery: The Rape & Murder of Brianna Denison Leads to Nevada Passing Brianna’s Law (January 12, 2014)

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ID Go: When a young college student is abducted from a friend’s home in the middle of the night, the city of Reno lives in fear of who might be next. Dogged investigation leads detectives to a serial rapist who’s just escalated to murder. -Vanished in Reno, Unusual Suspects (S6,E1)

“The bill mandates a DNA cheek-swab whenever a person is booked for a felony arrest. If the arrest is deemed legitimate, the DNA would be cross-referenced with DNA from other crime scenes to see if the arrestee was involved. The proposal is named after Brianna Denison who was raped and murdered by James Biela in Reno in 2008. Proponents believe such a law may have saved Denison because Biela had a prior felony arrest.”

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Related Links:
Vanished in Reno | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (website)
Vanished in Reno | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (S6,E1)
Vanished in Reno | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
College Student Brianna Denison Kidnapped, Raped and Strangled by a Former Marine in Reno, Nevada; James Biela Sentenced to Death (January 20, 2008)
From May 2013: Brianna’s Law officially becomes Nevada state law
Brianna’s Law has matched more than 1,000 DNA samples to crimes

Missouri: Local victim of military sexual assault speaks out (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, In Their Name, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment


Reports of sexual assault in the military went up 46 percent in 2013, but the problem is not new to the women who answer the call of duty. -41 Action News

“It seemed like sexual trauma in the military back then was unheard of. I was not trying to be the test baby. I wasn’t trying to be the Rosa Parks of that generation.” -Ja-Renna Floyd, US Army Veteran

Related Links:
Local military sexual assault victim speaks out

Politico: McCaskill’s ‘lonely’ sex-assault stand (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, Navy, Sexual Assault, USAF, USCG, USMCLeave a comment

My Approved PortraitsSen. Claire McCaskill is on the verge of a historic victory reforming the Pentagon’s sexual assault policies.

But rather than basking in acclaim during the debate’s climatic week in the Capitol, the Missouri Democrat finds herself paying a political cost for being an outlier within her own caucus. She’s the only one of the Senate’s 16 Democratic women opposing a much more sweeping change that removes the chain of command from prosecuting sexual assault and other major military crimes.

Read more from Politico here.

“Dear @clairecmc Thanks 4 railroading the Military Justice Improvement Act. Is it true that you have never served a day in your life? #MJIA,” Jennifer Norris, a Maine-based Air Force veteran who works with sexual assault victims…tweeted, referring to Gillibrand’s legislative proposal by its official name. -Politico

Editor’s Note: It appears the original tweet has disappeared and it was never deleted by Jennifer Norris. Also the tweet is not on the web version of the article but is still part of the mobile version of the article.

Military justice overhaul could be limited to rapes, sex assaults

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Screen Shot 2017-11-14 at 2.01.43 PM

Military justice overhaul could be limited to rapes, sex assaults

Supporters of a bipartisan Senate plan to reduce the influence of the military chain of command in crime investigations, prosecutions and sentencings are willing to make a deal to limit their initiative to rape and sexual assault cases if that’s what it takes to get the measure passed.

The Military Justice Improvement Act, introduced in May, has been aimed since its inception at doing something about the low prosecution rate of rape and assault cases.

Don’t read more here because the Marine Corps Times purged it like all of the Military Times media outlets do, in effect erasing history.

Sexual assaults not scaring off female recruits (2013)

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Sexual assaults not scaring off female recruits

Rep. Jackie Speier has been telling every academy recruit she meets and their  parents the same thing for years — that sexual assault in the military is rampant.  But not a single woman she’s talked to has ever changed her mind about joining.

“This is a $400,000 scholarship,” said Speier (D-Calif.) of the academy  nominees. “On the one hand, they are weighing the savings to the family pocketbook, the extraordinary education and opportunities and then this  potential risk — and I think they are expecting us to protect their daughters.”

Read more here.

Breaking the chain: Sen. Gillibrand’s mission to change military policy on sexual assault

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RetaliationBreaking the chain: Sen. Gillibrand’s mission to change military policy on sexual assault

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is on a mission to change how the military prosecutes sexual assaults. She points to one statistic to explain why: 60 percent of those who reported sexual assaults last year were retaliated against by their superiors. “The victims tell us over and over again that they don’t trust the chain of command,” Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, told “The Fine Print.”

Gillibrand is calling for removing sexual assault cases from the chain of command, so decisions on whether to try such cases would be made by military prosecutors, not commanders.

Watch video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/breaking-the-chain–sen–gillibrand%E2%80%99s-mission-to-change-military-policy-on-sexual-assault-213205898.html?vp=1

Compass: Guard takes sexual assault seriously

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Thomas KatkusBy GEN. THOMAS KATKUS         

As commissioner for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and adjutant general for the Alaska National Guard, I am responsible for ensuring all personnel aggressively root out any harassment, hostile work environments, sexual assault or trading of sexual favors. These actions have no place in America’s work environment. This responsibility to our military family and our state workforce is nonnegotiable.

When Gov. Sean Parnell spoke at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Fairbanks last week, he clearly stated that respect is a traditional value that crosses all cultures. This is also true when it comes to the culture of the military. “Choose Respect” is not a slogan — it is a way of life for our military community, as it should be.

Read more here.

Wisconsin National Guard launches dedicated counsel program for sexual assault victims

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National GuardWisconsin National Guard launches dedicated counsel program for sexual assault victims

MADISON, Wis. – Military sexual assault prevention and response programs have  gained attention over the past year as a Department of Defense report shows an  increase in reported sexual assaults. Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, Wisconsin  adjutant general, has made it clear the issue is a top priority in the Wisconsin  National Guard as well.

“There is no place for sexual assault in the  Wisconsin National Guard,” Dunbar said. “We will not look the other  way.”

Over the past few months, Dunbar and other senior Wisconsin  National Guard leaders have visited every Wisconsin National Guard unit and  facility to convey that simple, unmistakable message.

Currently, the  Wisconsin National Guard’s sexual assault prevention and response program  provides sexual assault and domestic violence victims with emergency response  assistance, counseling and therapy referrals, personal and systemic advocacy,  and access to applicable benefits. But as of Oct. 1, Wisconsin National Guard  members coping with the unthinkable crime of being sexually assaulted by a  fellow service member have a new advocate.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/116009/wisconsin-national-guard-launches-dedicated-counsel-program-sexual-assault-victims#.UnT-tiLD_mI

Attention all Airmen: AF holds sexual assault offenders accountable, convictions now online

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USAF SealROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — You’ve heard a lot lately about the topic of sexual assault. You will continue to hear a lot about it in the weeks and months ahead. It’s important that each Air Force member understands the importance of the Air Force addressing and solving this real issue.

Each allegation of a criminal offense must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In court, the court members and military judge must exercise their independent judgment in determining the facts of a particular case and, if the accused is guilty, determine an appropriate punishment. When a person is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, it’s often possible to identify recurring themes and risks. In that way, we can all work together to protect ourselves, protect each other and combat the problem head on.

To this end, the Air Force now publishes sexual assault convictions online. Anyone can go to the website and review more than 100 sexual assault convictions from across the Air Force. After a few minutes of reviewing the facts of the cases that resulted in a conviction, you will soon see many cases are very similar – they involve: the use of alcohol; the absence of personal respect for the victim; and the absence of the victim’s consent.

 

Lawmaker sustains 6-month hold on 3-star’s nomination

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Susan HelmsLawmaker sustains 6-month hold on 3-star’s nomination

For six months, a prominent Democratic lawmaker has blocked Lt. Gen. Susan Helms’ nomination to be vice commander of Space Command, making it unlikely that she will ever be confirmed.

Helms continues to serve as commander of 14th Air Force. Lt. Gen. John Hyten has already been confirmed to replace her, but the Air Force is waiting for Helms to be confirmed before moving forward, Air Force spokesman Capt. Adam Gregory said. Helms’ nomination will expire in January 2015.

Both Helms and Hyten declined to comment for this story, Gregory said.

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri first objected to Helms nomination in April and then reaffirmed her stance in June, citing Helms’ decision to overturn the sex assault conviction of a captain at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in February 2012.

Read more: http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20131027/NEWS05/310270007/Lawmaker-sustains-6-month-hold-3-star-s-nomination