Sexual Assault In The Military

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Annual Enforcement Report Briefing and Speakers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that it will hold a briefing in support of its annual enforcement report on sexual assault in the military on Friday, January 11, 2013.  Interested members of the public are invited to attend and no prior notice is required except for special accommodation requests. 

DATE AND TIME:  Friday, January 11, 2013 at 9:30 am ET

PLACE:  
Commission Headquarters Hearing Room
1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (entrance accessed from F Street NW)
Suite 1150
Washington, DC  20425

The Department of Defense's own surveys indicate that approximately 4% of female service members compared to 1% of male service members experience some form of sexual assault each year.  In fiscal year 2011, the Armed Services completed investigations in 2,353 reports of sexual assault, which represent only a small fraction of the sexual assaults estimated to have actually occurred.  Of those cases investigated, fewer than half (989) went forward for disciplinary action, and only about half of those (489) were referred to court-martial. Of those who were convicted of sexual assault, only 78% served any time in prison. The Commission will examine and issue a report on the Department of Defense's efforts to ensure the administration of justice in the military's investigations of sexual assault allegations, its discipline of perpetrators, and its efforts to address and reduce discrimination against women in the Armed Forces.

The following experts will present their views and discuss these issues at the briefing:

Panel 1: Rachel Natelson, Legal Director, Service Women's Action Network (SWAN); Phillip D. Cave, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Law Office of Phillip D. Cave; Nancy Parish, President, Protect Our Defenders; Bridget Wilson, Major, California Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, Enlisted (Ret.), Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean, P.L.C.

Panel 2: Professor Dwight H. Sullivan, George Washington University Law School; Professor Elizabeth Hillman, University of California, Hastings, School of Law; Professor Victor Hansen, New England School of Law; Professor David Lisak, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Boston, Department of Psychology

Panel 3: Major General Gary Patton, Director, Department of Defense's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office; Nate Galbreath, MSF, Ph.D., Highly Qualified Expert, Department of Defense's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office; Lieutenant General Richard C. Harding, Judge Advocate General, U.S. Department of the Air Force; Vice Admiral Nanette M. DeRenzi, Judge Advocate General, U.S. Department of the Navy; Lieutenant General Dana K. Chipman, Judge Advocate General, U.S. Department of the Army; Major General Vaughn Ary, Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps

Active duty and former service members, particularly those who have been victims of sexual assault or have been accused of sexual assault, are encouraged to submit written comments.  These public comments may be submitted until COB Monday, February 11, 2013 and may be sent by any of three ways: 1) by mail to 1331 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 1150, Washington, D.C., 20425, 2) emailed to [email protected], or 3) faxed to (202) 376-1163.

Deaf or hearing-impaired persons who will attend the January 11, 2013, briefing and require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact Pam Dunston at (202) 376-8105 at least seven business days prior to the briefing.

Contact:
Lenore Ostrowsky,
Acting Chief, Public Affairs Unit
(202) 376-8591

SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights