Why rapists in military get away with it--by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)

[pinboy3niner]

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Jackie Speier: If you commit sexual assault in the military, you'll probably get away with it

• Speier: Service members who report attack face ridicule, demotion, refusal to be heard

• Sex assault scandal at Lackland base shows how trainees are preyed upon, she says

• Speier wants sex assault cases tried in impartial military office to ensure justice

By Jackie Speier, Special to CNN
updated 8:19 AM EDT, Thu June 21, 2012


Editor's note: Democratic U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier represents the 12th District of California. She is also the honorary chair of Protect Our Defenders, an organization that supports women and men in uniform who have been raped or sexually assaulted by fellow service members. Those who wish to share their stories can do so at Protect Our Defenders. Watch Rep. Speier talk about the issue with Carol Costello on CNN Newsroom on Thursday in the 9 a.m. hour.

(CNN) -- If you serve in the U.S. military and you rape or sexually assault a fellow service member, chances are you won't be punished. In fact, you have an estimated 86.5% chance of keeping your crime a secret and a 92% chance of avoiding a court-martial.

These disturbing statistics illustrate an ongoing epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta believes amounted to 19,000 incidents just in 2010. A culture of acceptance combined with few prosecutions against assailants and the conflicted chain of command structure discourages victims from reporting crimes.

Service members who report being sexually assaulted by a commanding officer or military colleague do so at their own peril. They face ridicule, demotion, investigation that includes a review of their sexual history and even involuntary discharge.

...


Right now, it is far too easy for a sexual predator in the military to rape or sexually assault a fellow service member and get away with it. Until these crimes are taken seriously and assailants are punished as the felons they are, the epidemic will continue.


http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/opinion/speier-military-rape/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[LiberalLoner]

1. +1

[COLGATE4]

2. And I believe it's a far more prevalent

problem than we might suspect. My daughter, a Navy Doctor was stationed with the Marines at a base in the Mid-East. She tells me that, by far and away the greatest problem presented by all female service members, enlisted and officers alike was that of urinary tract infections, caused by 'holding it overnight' for fear of being raped when going to the head (toilet). Stunning.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Anyone who talks to military women and vets hears the same story

The fear of leaving one's quarters to go to the bathroom at night. Fear of their "comrades," their "brothers-in-arms," can even be stronger than their fears of the enemy.

[pinboy3niner]

4. OP now cross-posted in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002839368

[pinboy3niner]

5. Rep. Jackie Speier: This is a huge stain on military (video interview)

CNN finally posted the video of today's interview with Rep. Speier:

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/21/rep-jackie-speier-this-is-a-huge-stain-on-military/