Secretary of Defense: Create a Central National Registry for Military Sex Offenders

[redqueen]

http://www.change.org/petitions/secretary-of-defense-create-a-central-national-registry-for-military-sex-offenders?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7438&alert_id=mJHvJexQEq_zcPvtJQWDA

I joined the military because I wanted to serve my country. I served as a Lance Corporal in the Marines for over three years. In that time I was raped twice and sexually assaulted another two times.

(snip)

When I finally decided to report the sexual assaults I was led through a maze of questions and excuses and I was even discouraged from reporting the crimes. In the end, instead of getting justice I was ostracized and humiliated.

I learned that there is currently no national military sex offender registry and that offenders are not required to disclose their crimes on their discharge papers. A sex offender registration for convicted for military personal would help to address the impunity that surrounds rape within rape the military. Most veterans are honorable men and women who have served our country, but there are some who have committed serious crimes like rape and sexual assault during their service and the military has a responsibility to disclose that information for the sake of the public good.

(snip)

This is part of a larger issue of rape within the military. Some estimates reveal that more than 1/3 of women in the armed services are raped during their service. If you serve in the US military and you rape or sexually assault a fellow service member you have an 86.5% chance of keeping the crime a secret and a 92% chance of avoiding court martial.

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[One_Life_To_Give]

1. Signed, although this is a small step

Last edited Thu Jul 12, 2012, 05:40 PM - Edit history (1)

In addition to all the misogynistic problems of the civilian world. The military has a cultural issue whereby superiors are reluctant to go after those under their command as it is considered to be a poor reflection upon themselves that a misdeed happened within their command. Provides a direct disincentive for any superior to prosecute a serious infraction.

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