NCHR Urges Senators to Support Bill that Removes Sexual Assaults from the Military Chain of Command


United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator _______,

The National Center for Health Research urges you to vote for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Military Justice Improvement Act when it is offered as an amendment (#4310) to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

Sexual assault is a public health issue that has important implications for our military and our veterans. The Department of Defense estimates that more than 18,000 incidents of unwanted sexual contact occurred in the military in FY 2014.[1] In addition to the emotional trauma and long-term mental health damage that often results from rape and sexual assault, these assaults cause harm to everyone involved while they are trying to effectively perform their military responsibilities.

The Military Justice Improvement Act would reform the military justice system, removing from the chain of command the decision to prosecute serious crimes that are punishable by confinement for more than one year. Instead, the decision about whether a case will go to court-martial would be in the hands of independent high-ranking prosecutors. Experienced prosecutors are better qualified to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial than are commanding officers.

Under the current system, individuals who were sexually assaulted have an incentive to not report what happened, for fear of how they will be treated on a daily basis, as well as the impact on their military careers. The vast majority of unwanted sexual contacts are never reported. This will continue because 62% of female sexual assault victims who reported their assaults “perceived some form of professional or social retaliation, administrative action, and/or punishment associated with their report.”[1]

Until survivors of sexual assault have confidence that they will be treated fairly, the incentive will be to be quiet, rather than to truthfully report what happened to oneself or to others. In the military, trust and respect is key to survival. Senator Gillibrand’s Military Justice Improvement Act is essential to make that a reality for all of the millions of active duty and reserve personnel in the U.S. Armed Services. The goal is that all military members will be able to serve with dignity and pride, without fear of sexual assault. In the past, you have voted against this legislation. We urge you to change your position and vote for Amendment #4310, which is a vote for the survivors of sexual assaults.

Sincerely,

Diana Zuckerman, PhD
President

References

  1. Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military (FY 2014). http://sapr.mil/public/docs/reports/FY14_Annual/FY14_DoD_SAPRO_Annual_Report_on_Sexual_Assault.pdf