The Dartmouth: Go With Gillibrand
The Dartmouth University Newspaper reports:
Gillibrand’s bill would place a survivor’s quest for justice in the hands of an unbiased, independent military prosecutor. Such a prosecutor would have a strong and up-to-date understanding of legal issues surrounding sexual assault, which may not be the case for military commanders. Military commanders face a fundamental conflict of interest when approaching sexual assault cases that impedes nearly all hope for justice; the MJIA would alleviate that incompatibility and give survivors the chance for justice they deserve. As a result, more survivors would feel comfortable speaking out against their assailants, and we could slowly begin to erode the culture of sexism and silence that plagues the U.S. military.
Claims that removing the prosecution of sexual assault cases from the military chain of command would weaken the military’s power or undermine its hierarchical structure are baseless. In fact, MJIA would result in a fundamentally stronger military. Survivors of sexual assault could access the resources they need to overcome trauma and continue contributing effectively to our nation’s defense. Greater accountability for perpetrators of sexual assault would disincentivize these crimes, resulting in fewer victims and a military that is mentally and physically stronger. Finally, more individuals, particularly women, who might otherwise be uncomfortable with the military’s sexual assault culture, would enlist. Meanwhile, the fundamental principles of hierarchy and authority so central to the military would go untouched; there would be a stronger system in place to prevent and punish abuses of power.
