Gen. Sinclair. Photo c/o US Army. (Amanda Hils)
As a general’s trial begins, military policy and culture with respect to sexual assault and a culture of silence is being put on display today.
As reported by Reuters,
“The accusations led to Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair’s removal from command in Afghanistan in 2012 and his trial, set to begin on Tuesday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will shed light on how the military handles such complaints.
Proponents of military justice reform say the case underscores broader problems with the U.S. armed forces’ approach to sexual assault prosecutions and shows the need for an overhaul as such crime reports increase.
A chief concern, reform advocates say, is that the current system gives military commanders without legal training control over prosecutions, prompting accusations of partiality.
“This case is illustrating why the current system can be very counter-productive,” said Diane Mazur, a former Air Force officer and professor of military and constitutional law at the University of Florida.”
Follow Us