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| Pentagon sees surge in reports of sexual assault among service members | Pentagon sees surge in reports of sexual assault among service members |
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| The number of U.S. service members who reported being sexually assaulted surged by 50 percent last year, the Pentagon announced Thursday, the latest sign of how the military has struggled to cope with sex crimes in the ranks. | The number of U.S. service members who reported being sexually assaulted surged by 50 percent last year, the Pentagon announced Thursday, the latest sign of how the military has struggled to cope with sex crimes in the ranks. |
| Military officials said they didn’t know whether the sharp increase meant that more crimes were actually committed, but they added that the evidence suggested that victims were simply more willing to come forward. The Pentagon has been conducting a high-profile campaign to prevent sexual assault and punish offenders amid concerns that it neglected the problem for years. | Military officials said they didn’t know whether the sharp increase meant that more crimes were actually committed, but they added that the evidence suggested that victims were simply more willing to come forward. The Pentagon has been conducting a high-profile campaign to prevent sexual assault and punish offenders amid concerns that it neglected the problem for years. |
| At a minimum, however, the startling figures released Thursday illustrated how sexual violence is much more prevalent in the armed forces than commanders previously realized. | At a minimum, however, the startling figures released Thursday illustrated how sexual violence is much more prevalent in the armed forces than commanders previously realized. |
| The Marine Corps, for instance, recorded an 86 percent increase in sexual assault reports during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013. The Army saw a 51 percent jump during the same period, compared with 46 percent for the Navy and 33 percent for the Air Force. | The Marine Corps, for instance, recorded an 86 percent increase in sexual assault reports during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013. The Army saw a 51 percent jump during the same period, compared with 46 percent for the Navy and 33 percent for the Air Force. |
| All told, the Pentagon said it received 5,061 reports of sexual assault last year, up from 3,374 the year before. Officials said they presume that those reports still represent only a fraction of the sex crimes committed each year against the 1.4 million active-duty members of the military. As in society at large, they said, most victims are reluctant to report what happened to them. | All told, the Pentagon said it received 5,061 reports of sexual assault last year, up from 3,374 the year before. Officials said they presume that those reports still represent only a fraction of the sex crimes committed each year against the 1.4 million active-duty members of the military. As in society at large, they said, most victims are reluctant to report what happened to them. |
| “We have a long way to go in solving this problem,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters. “We must keep up the pressure and intensify our efforts to improve victim confidence in our system.” | “We have a long way to go in solving this problem,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters. “We must keep up the pressure and intensify our efforts to improve victim confidence in our system.” |
| The Pentagon reported preliminary counts in December. The final statistics released Thursday were in line with those results, but the military also provided a detailed breakdown that offered more insights: | The Pentagon reported preliminary counts in December. The final statistics released Thursday were in line with those results, but the military also provided a detailed breakdown that offered more insights: |
| ●About 79 percent of sexually assaulted service members were women (women constitute about 15 percent of the 1.4 million troops on active duty). At the same time, Pentagon officials said they were concerned that the number of victimized men was especially under-reported and that male troops are more reluctant to report being abused. | ●About 79 percent of sexually assaulted service members were women (women constitute about 15 percent of the 1.4 million troops on active duty). At the same time, Pentagon officials said they were concerned that the number of victimized men was especially under-reported and that male troops are more reluctant to report being abused. |
| ●A slight majority — 54 percent — of the reports filed last year involved a member of the military who claimed to have been attacked by someone else in uniform. The remainder involved a mix of civilian and military perpetrators and victims. | ●A slight majority — 54 percent — of the reports filed last year involved a member of the military who claimed to have been attacked by someone else in uniform. The remainder involved a mix of civilian and military perpetrators and victims. |
| ●Ten percent of those filing reports said they had been victimized before joining the military but waited to come forward, more than a year in some cases. | |
| The Defense Department defines sexual assault as “intentional sexual contact characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation or abuse of authority” involving a victim who does not consent. It can cover a variety of crimes. | The Defense Department defines sexual assault as “intentional sexual contact characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation or abuse of authority” involving a victim who does not consent. It can cover a variety of crimes. |
| Slightly more than half the cases investigated last year involved alleged offenses classified as rape, sexual assault or non-consensual sodomy, according to the report. | Slightly more than half the cases investigated last year involved alleged offenses classified as rape, sexual assault or non-consensual sodomy, according to the report. |
| Service members who say they were sexually assaulted face agonizing decisions about whether to speak up or stay silent. Read more. | |
| The final statistics released Thursday gave a detailed breakdown of the figures. Explore the data. | |
| Advocacy groups credited the Pentagon with taking steps to support victims and encourage them to come forward. But some said they still had reservations about whether the military is properly investigating and prosecuting sex offenses that are reported. | Advocacy groups credited the Pentagon with taking steps to support victims and encourage them to come forward. But some said they still had reservations about whether the military is properly investigating and prosecuting sex offenses that are reported. |
| “There is definitely a seriousness about it,” Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, said about the military’s overall responsiveness to sexual assault in the ranks. “I’m still quite concerned about the whole justice system. There’s still a lot of problems with how the cases are handled.” | “There is definitely a seriousness about it,” Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, said about the military’s overall responsiveness to sexual assault in the ranks. “I’m still quite concerned about the whole justice system. There’s still a lot of problems with how the cases are handled.” |
| Pentagon figures show that 2,149 service members were investigated last year on suspicion of committing sexual assault. Of those, about 73 percent received some form of punishment. The number of suspected offenders actually convicted at court-martial, however, remained relatively small: about 11 percent of all criminal investigations into sexual assault. | Pentagon figures show that 2,149 service members were investigated last year on suspicion of committing sexual assault. Of those, about 73 percent received some form of punishment. The number of suspected offenders actually convicted at court-martial, however, remained relatively small: about 11 percent of all criminal investigations into sexual assault. |
| Even fewer — about 6 percent — were convicted of a crime serious enough to require that the defendant be added to a sex-offender registry. | Even fewer — about 6 percent — were convicted of a crime serious enough to require that the defendant be added to a sex-offender registry. |
| Defense officials and outside experts said those figures reflect the inherent difficulty of bringing sexual-assault cases to trial and winning convictions. Physical evidence is often lacking, and it can be hard to establish whether consent was not given. | Defense officials and outside experts said those figures reflect the inherent difficulty of bringing sexual-assault cases to trial and winning convictions. Physical evidence is often lacking, and it can be hard to establish whether consent was not given. |
| “Each one of these crimes is very unique and is tried on the merits of the case,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, director of the Pentagon’s sexual-assault prevention office. “What I would say is the victims are getting their day in court, and the results are the results.” | “Each one of these crimes is very unique and is tried on the merits of the case,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, director of the Pentagon’s sexual-assault prevention office. “What I would say is the victims are getting their day in court, and the results are the results.” |
| Nate Galbreath, a Pentagon official and the lead author of the report released Thursday, said most sexual assault victims in the military were enlisted troops younger than 25. Their attackers were usually senior in rank. | Nate Galbreath, a Pentagon official and the lead author of the report released Thursday, said most sexual assault victims in the military were enlisted troops younger than 25. Their attackers were usually senior in rank. |
| “Our offenders tend to be a little bit older and a little bit higher in rank,” he said. “These are not strangers. These are people that they know, and that’s the tragedy.” | “Our offenders tend to be a little bit older and a little bit higher in rank,” he said. “These are not strangers. These are people that they know, and that’s the tragedy.” |
| Alcohol was a factor in as many as half the cases, officials said. In response, Hagel said he had ordered the military to conduct a broad review of alcohol policies. Defense officials said they weren’t contemplating alcohol bans, but wanted to find ways to discourage the kind of binge drinking that often precedes sexual assaults. | Alcohol was a factor in as many as half the cases, officials said. In response, Hagel said he had ordered the military to conduct a broad review of alcohol policies. Defense officials said they weren’t contemplating alcohol bans, but wanted to find ways to discourage the kind of binge drinking that often precedes sexual assaults. |
| Col. Michael Hudson, director of the Marine Corps sexual-assault prevention program, said nine out of 10 cases involved victims younger than 24. Half the assaults occurred on a military base. | Col. Michael Hudson, director of the Marine Corps sexual-assault prevention program, said nine out of 10 cases involved victims younger than 24. Half the assaults occurred on a military base. |
| He acknowledged that cultural issues may have discouraged Marines from reporting assaults in the past. The Marine Corps has a lower percentage of women — 7 percent of those on active duty — than any other service. The Corps also prides itself on a self-reliant culture that frowns on weakness. | He acknowledged that cultural issues may have discouraged Marines from reporting assaults in the past. The Marine Corps has a lower percentage of women — 7 percent of those on active duty — than any other service. The Corps also prides itself on a self-reliant culture that frowns on weakness. |
| “They cannot have a barrier to asking for help,” Hudson said. “I’m here to tell you we have a problem, still, but we’re moving it in the right direction.” | “They cannot have a barrier to asking for help,” Hudson said. “I’m here to tell you we have a problem, still, but we’re moving it in the right direction.” |