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In response to failures of leadership around sex crimes and recent murders at Fort Hood in Texas, the Army is hiring a civilian to co-head its criminal investigation division.
The move is the first step in a break from the traditional chain of command structure handling crimes, which has been wavering in recent years as sexual assaults have risen and criminal offenders have not been held accountable for their actions.
“Maj. Gen. Donna Martin led an intensive five-month structural redesign to create an organization with enhanced capabilities and capacity, organized with and led by civilian and military agents, military officers, and enlisted soldiers,” said acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley in a Thursday statement. “We are very confident these organizational changes address the committee’s criminal investigations division-related recommendations and lead us into the future.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., says there are now enough votes in the Senate to pass legislation to move cases of sexual assault in the military out of the chain of command. Above, Gillibrand talks about the bill outside the U.S. Capitol last week. Stefani Reynolds / Getty Images
In a breakthrough for an eight-year-long effort, two senators behind legislation to revamp the way the military handles sexual assault cases and other serious crimes say the bill has the bipartisan votes to gain passage.
New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst said on Wednesday that the legislation would, for the first time, move cases out of the chain of command to trained, military prosecutors. Such cases would remain under military oversight, but instead be handled by criminal justice attorneys with relevant expertise, as opposed to commanders who often lack legal training.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., says there are now enough votes in the Senate to pass legislation to move cases of sexual assault in the military out of the chain of command. Above, Gillibrand talks about the bill outside the U.S. Capitol last week. Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images
toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., says there are now enough votes in the Senate to pass legislation to move cases of sexual assault in the military out of the chain of command. Above, Gillibrand talks about the bill outside the U.S. Capitol last week.
11 hours ago by Claudia Grisales (NPR)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) (C) speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on April 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. A bipartisan group of Senators gathered in support of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act, which would move the decision to prosecute a member of the military from the chain of command to independent, trained, professional military prosecutors. Image credit: Stefani Reynolds
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Home/News from NPR/Bill To Combat Sexual Assault In Military Finally Has Votes To Pass, Senators Say
The bill, long-championed by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, would dramatically reshape how the military addresses assault cases by removing them from the chain of command.
Bill To Combat Sexual Assault In Military Finally Has Votes To Pass, Senators Say
By Claudia Grisales
May 6, 2021
In a breakthrough for an eight-year-long effort, two senators behind legislation to revamp the way the military handles sexual assault cases and other serious crimes say the bill has the bipartisan votes to gain passage.
New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst said on Wednesday that the legislation would, for the first time, move cases out of the chain of command to trained, military prosecutors. Such cases would remain under military oversight, but instead be handled by criminal justice attorneys with relevant expertise, as opposed to commanders who often