About Face: U.S. Military Seeks Historic Overhaul of Justice System

Date Posted: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National

The Defense Department quietly proposed the most far-reaching reforms to its justice system in decades in December 2015. Included in the reforms: the Pentagon would issue sentencing guidelines for military crimes, military judges would determine sentences previously rendered by juries of military personnel with little or no legal experience, and all convicted service members would have a right to appeal. Neither the legislation nor the 1,300-page review addressed the role of commanders, which continues to be a contentious issue in Congress after years of controversy over the military’s handling of sexual assault. More than three dozen changes to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice were imposed by Congress prior to the release of this report. Don Christensen, President of "Protect Our Defenders," noted the changes were far reaching, "but the central issue of the commander’s influence, he said, remained untouched."

Read the full article at: ProPublica