In U.S. Military, Sex Crimes on the Rise?
EmailNearly 3,000 members of the U.S. armed forces were involved in reported sex crimes in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
That looks to be an increase from 2005, when the Pentagon says it received 2,374 reports of attempted or actual rapes or sexual assaults. But, it cautions, comparisons are difficult because its reporting process is new.
Those numbers are of interest to several of our readers and viewers, who wrote in following our coverage of the rape and sexual assault allegations by KBR/Halliburton contract employees in Iraq.
What was the prevalence of sex crimes in the military? They wondered.
Even with these statistics, it’s a tough question to answer. First, experts warn that sex crimes are notoriously underreported, and that may be even more true for crimes involving members of the military – particularly in war zones. Working in close quarters or in isolated units, victims may be less likely to report a crime for fear of ostracization or retaliation.
Second, of the 2,974 cases reported in 2006, the military investigated only 2,277. That’s because it allows victims to report a rape or sexual assault but request it be kept confidential. The option may lower an alleged victim’s fear of reprisal, if he or she can keep investigators from interrogating fellow unit members and collecting other evidence.
Of the cases investigated, nearly 1,200 involved servicemembers allegedly assaulting fellow servicemembers. Some 82 involved servicemembers being assaulted by civilians. In 370 investigations, the alleged assailant was "unidentified" as either military or civilian. A civilian was the subject and a servicemember the perpetrator of the alleged crime in 658 of the reports probed.
According to the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, rape and sexual assault in its ranks may be increasing, although it warns its data is incomplete: it received 2,374 reports of actual or attempted rapes and sexual assaults in 2005, the first year complete statistics were kept. The previous year, its data show 1,700 reports.
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It human nature they are missing something. Please bring them home.
Posted by: Peace | February 8, 2008, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
Women should not be allowed in the military with the exception of hospital/medical care duties. Name me one great empire that EVER had women soldiers.
And remember I said GREAT empire…
Posted by: DC Joe | February 8, 2008, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
Do we really want to be a “great empire”?
Posted by: yank in london | February 9, 2008, 7:59 am 7:59 am
Are you a soldier? Have you been to Iraq? Do you know of the sacrifice that female soldiers make out here on a daily basis? Do you know what it’s like to go out on a convoy Christmas Day? Do you know what it feels like to open the armored door and dismount because you’re being ambushed? Do you know what it’s like to apply a tourniquet to someone who just had their legs blown off by an EFP? Do you know what it’s like to put your friends body parts in a trash bag because the body bags have all been used up? Do you know what it’s like to sit in a guard tower during your birthday? Do you know what it’s like to calm someone during their lasts breaths? Assure them that you’ll give their parents their death letter? Everything I’ve just listed above has been done by female soldiers. It’s armchair soldiers like you that take our sacrifices for granted.
Posted by: 3rdIDVet | February 10, 2008, 12:04 am 12:04 am
I am not surprised about the numbers but of the naïveté the general public has on the subject. The military is just a microcasm of our society. There are great people fighting along side any numerous types of people. I worked in a longterm military prison during the 90s and at any one time the sex offenders population was over 75%. Society has developed this over time with the desensitization of sex in the media and the internet.
Posted by: Proud but distressed vet | February 11, 2008, 3:52 am 3:52 am
We as a society must not allow our military to be put in situations in which they will fail. It is our responsibility as a society to ensure that women in our military are not sexually assaulted. Prevention is the answer not deterrence.
Posted by: proud to serve | February 11, 2008, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Women do not belong in combat. This is a man’s job. Shame on our nation for allowing women to fight for the freedom of the country while men stay at home. Where are the brave men to stand up and fight for the women and children?
Posted by: Mike Liptak | February 29, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
To Mr. Mike Liptak
I have served side by side with men and women and the best partner I have ever had was a women. I would go to war again with a women in a heart beat. If you have not fought don’t say such a foolish thing if you have then you will know that women can do just as much as any man and in some cases more. We all know our limits. Stop being so closed minded.
Posted by: Cpl. Michael T | March 3, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Reported incidents. Hmmmm. They all go into the stats. But when many get shown to be false accusations, the stats are NOT reduced, because a report is a report.
The only stats worth considering before anyone gets their combat knickers in a twist, is the number off offences where a conviction is obtained, less the number of subsequent exonerations when the DNA tests prove that a convicted man (always a friggin’ man) was innocent all along.
2,374 reports, in a military of what number? What %age of the number in the military is this? I suspect it is slightly below the percentage in civilian society. Maybe someone unbiased and having up to date numbers could elaborate.
Posted by: amfortas | July 21, 2008, 4:05 am 4:05 am
The Military needs to be more aggressive when it comes to training. I would double the amount of time and material in reference to sexual assault. They should also use refresher courses about sexual assault. This may help to cut down on violence once people leave the military.
Posted by: Jim Klich | August 18, 2008, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm