Report: Military Investigations of Sex Crimes Failed Victims

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General has found that from June 2018 to May 2020, military branch units did not comply with federal law and department policy requiring them to designate certified investigators and specially trained prosecutors in some sexual assault and domestic violence cases, reports Law 360. By not assigning appropriate personnel to special-victims cases, the military increased the risk of commanders making prosecutorial decisions based on insufficient crime investigations and poor legal advice.

Out of 447 special-victim investigations, the military failed to assign certified investigators in 118 cases.  Of all the military branches, the Air Force had the highest percentage of special-victims cases for which it did not designate certified investigators at 66 percent. Of the 447 investigations, the military failed to place specially trained prosecutors on 258 cases — more than 50 percent, the report says. In addition, Investigators failed to document 24- and 48-hour communications with prosecutors and victim advocates in more than 80 percent of the 447 cases, and failed to record monthly communications with prosecutors in 54 percent of those cases and with victims in 34 percent of cases. Investigators either overlooked the requirement to communicate with prosecutors and victim advocates, or they did not properly document their communications. Military officials disputed the watchdog’s findings that specially trained prosecutors were not assigned to sexual assault and domestic violence cases as required by law.