More military justice reforms included in defense policy bill
By Leo Shane III
Friday, Dec 16
For the second year in a row, the annual defense authorization bill passed by Congress includes singificant changes to the military justice system. (Airman 1st Class William Rosado/Air Force)
For the second consecutive year, the annual defense authorization bill advanced by Congress includes a slate of military justice reforms that advocates say will better protect sexual assault victims in the ranks and restore troops’ faith in the institution.
“This is a historic milestone in the effort to professionalize the military justice system and give service members a system worthy of their sacrifice,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in a statement Friday.
“For nearly a decade, I have fought alongside survivors, veterans, advocates and legal experts to implement a simple but fundamental change: removing judicial functions and prosecutorial decisions from the chain of command and putting them in the hands of independent, trained professionals.”
Last year, as part of the fiscal 2022 authorization bill, lawmakers approved language creating an independent trial counsel to handle prosecution of sex crimes and other serious offenses, taking that power away from local commanders.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/12/16/more-military-justice-reforms-included-in-defense-policy-bill/
