Due to years of legislative work to address the ongoing problems in handling sex crimes in the military and with the national attention given to the disappearance and murder of soldier Vanessa Guillen, changes are finally taking place. However, the changes fall short of what is needed to really address the problems.
The changes are significant but did not include all the changes that were sought. Instead of “civilian” prosecutors, independent “military” prosecutors will replace commanders in determining whether those accused of sexual assault, rape, murder, domestic violence and other offenses will be prosecuted. sexual harassment will be criminalized but will not be under the special prosecutor structure. It will take two years for the new law to be implemented.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the changes do not go far enough. Senator Gillibrand said she will continue to seek changes due to the fact that commanders still maintain their authority to conduct trials, choose jury members, grant immunity, and approve witnesses.
-Pam Carver, President of Fayetteville NOW
Copied from Fayetteville NOW Newsletter from December 2021/January 2022
Fayetteville NOW and Raleigh NOW have organized 3 panels on #MeToo problems in the military with a special focus on Vanessa Guillen and on Fort Bragg.
Shortlink: https://wp.me/p22b2e-3Gd
North Carolina NOW 