Military Claims of Retaliation for Sexual Offense Complaints on the Rise
Says former JAG attorney Sean Timmons
May 3, 2018 – Houston, T.X.
– According to an annual Pentagon report more U.S. service members
claim they faced retribution for filing sexual assault or harassment
complaints last year than in 2016. According to the Pentagon Report,
there were 146 reports of retaliation last year compared to 84 reports
of retaliation in 2016. Overall, the Defense Department saw a growing
number of sexual misconduct cases. The total number of sexual harassment
complaints increased by 16 percent.
According
to the report, it was mainly women who reported the retaliation cases
after they had filed sexual assault complaints. Less than 20 percent of
the retaliation cases were service members who filed sexual harassment
complaints.
Some who filed cases, according to the report, stated that they felt ostracized and faced cruelty or mistreatment.
The
report says 31 out of 85 retaliation cases filed were substantiated. Of
those 31, the department took action against 9 offenders. The report
says disciplinary actions against 14 others are still in the process.
In a press-advisory send to Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox, former JAG officer and managing partner at Tully and Rinckey said of this report: “Military
reports and surveys on sexual offenses indicate a growing need for
change. The sole purpose of someone coming forward with an allegation of
sexual misconduct including assault, is to make sure the claim is
properly vetted and investigated so justice can be served if the claim
is substantiated. Unfortunately statistics would indicate instead, our
service members who report sexual assault are more likely to suffer
retaliation for reporting it than seeing their alleged offender
convicted for the offense."
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CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX
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