Tag: Sexual Assault

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Navy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US NavyCommand Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

Congress didn’t waste any time weighing in on the case either. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., served notice that she will cite the Naval Academy sexual assault case in her efforts to legislate a major overhaul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to take away commanders’ authority to refer charges and overrule decisions in courts-martial.

“It is time to move the sole decision-making power over whether serious crimes go to trial from the chain of command into the hands of non-biased, professionally trained military prosecutors — where it belongs,” Gillibrand said.

Read more: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/10/14/command-influence-to-figure-in-navy-rape-case.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Kirsten GillibrandGillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

Gillibrand hasn’t yielded, recruiting flag officers and members of the judge advocate general corps to her side. She now has 46 senators, including Sen. Charles E. Schumer, the chamber’s No. 3 Democrat, publicly endorsing the amendment to the Defense Authorization Act containing the reforms. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a 1958 Annapolis graduate, is not among seven Republicans supporting Gillibrand.

Don’t call it a women’s bill. It reaches to the very heart and soul of our armed forces, to their sense of decency, obedience and honor – to our war fighters’ ability to win conflicts.

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/douglas-turner/gillibrand-wont-quit-on-sexual-assault-bill-20131014

Ft. Sill Commander Addresses Growing Sexual Assaults

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US ArmyFt. Sill Commander Addresses Growing Sexual Assaults

FORT SILL Okla_ Top leaders at Ft. Sill met Wednesday to have an open and candid discussion regarding sexual assaults and harassments and the policies in place to make sure no crime goes unreported.

Over the past two years, Major General Mark McDonald said there have been about 50 cases of sexual assault and harassment. Wednesday’s seminar with top leaders came months before new initiatives set forth by the Department of Defense will take effect. In August, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined several new initiatives to reduce the amount of sexual harassment in the military.

Read more: http://www.kswo.com/story/23649561/ft-sill-commander-addresses-growing-sexual-assaults

Chain of command hurts justice and victims

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Chain of command hurts justice and victims

Sexual assaults in the military undergo a lengthy process of reporting before perpetrators can be punished. Faced with the mountains of red tape that must be cut through to bring justice to their offenders, many victims decide not to report the assaults at all. Victims are afraid to confront their situation, fearing that the revelation of their case will affect their role in the military.

Even more problematic is that the victim must report it in their chain of command – which can pose hardships for the victim, Capt. Lory Manning explains in an article for PBS titled “Emails shed new light on military sexual assault case.”

Read more: http://www.dailytitan.com/2013/10/chain-of-command-hurts-justice-and-victims/

Seminar: Rape in military ‘like rape in family’

On By AdministratorIn PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Seminar: Rape in military ‘like rape in family’

Holly O’Reilly read a chilling description of a chronic problem that continues to haunt military life: “Rape in the military is like rape in the family,” she said. “It’s where you live — it’s not just where you work.” “Rape is rape,” O’Reilly said. “It’s not about sex but about violence and power.”

Read more: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131012/NEWS/310120332/-1/NEWS

When the Violence Comes Home

On By AdministratorIn Domestic Violence, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

When the Violence Comes Home

A new study in the Journal of Family Violence starts off with a strong, hard truth: “Female Veterans experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at alarming rates.” Women in military service, the authors say, are not only at risk of sexual assault while they are serving; they are also at a much greater risk of domestic violence at home than non-vets. The authors, led by Katherine M. Iverson at the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, say that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) needs to be much better equipped to detect and treat this persistent and troubling phenomenon than they are now.

Read more: http://www.psmag.com/health/domestic-violence-comes-home-female-veterans-war-68090/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+miller-mccune%2Fmain_feed+(Pacific+Standard+-+Main+Feed)

Two ex-Navy football players to go on trial in rape case despite judge’s recommendation

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Eric Graham and Josh Tate

Two ex-Navy football players to go on trial in rape case despite judge’s recommendation

The superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy set aside the recommendation of a military judge Thursday and ordered two former Navy football players to face court-martial in the alleged sexual assault of a female midshipman, attorneys for the accused men said.

Joshua Tate, 21, of Nashville, will be tried on a charge of aggravated sexual assault, and Eric Graham, 21, of Eight Mile, Ala., will be tried on a charge of abusive sexual contact. Both are also charged with making false statements.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/two-of-three-ex-navy-football-players-charged-in-alleged-rape-will-face-court-martial/2013/10/10/0544abaa-31ae-11e3-8627-c5d7de0a046b_story.html

Two ex-Naval Academy football players face trial for sex assault

On By AdministratorIn Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US NavyTwo ex-Naval Academy football players face trial for sex assault

Two former U.S. Naval Academy football players accused of sexually assaulting a female midshipman will be tried by general courts-martial, the school said on Thursday.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/10/us-usa-military-sexualassault-idUSBRE9990QL20131010

Discharge dropped for airman who claimed retaliation

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

USAF LogoDischarge dropped for airman who claimed retaliation

Senior Airman Ciera Bridges, who had been facing discharge under other than honorable conditions, was featured in an Oct. 7 recent Air Force Times report on three airmen who claim they were retaliated against after accusing superiors of assault and harassment. Bridges was cited repeatedly for minor misconduct after she began making complaints against superiors for the harassment, which she said began soon after she arrived at Nellis in November 2009 and persisted for nearly three years.

Read more: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131009/NEWS/310090032/Discharge-dropped-airman-who-claimed-retaliation

Air Force Drops Discharge Of Sexual Assault Victim – After Story Breaks

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

USAF SealAir Force Drops Discharge Of Sexual Assault Victim – After Story Breaks

The Air Force has dropped its recommendation to discharge a servicewoman who claimed that she was sexually harassed and assaulted by three of her superiors — two days after the Air Force Times first reported on the alleged retaliation.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/air-force-sexual-assault_n_4078687.html