Reports of Sexaul Assault jumps 50%. Should Sexual Assault be treated as a crime of Treason?

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:19:20 -0400

If the crime was treated as treason, would this help to deter perpetrators because of the punishment?
trea·son

1. the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign.

2. a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.

3. the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/politics/military-sex-assault/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Reports of military sex assault up sharply - CNNPolitics.com

Reports of sex assault in the U.S. military are up by half, another startling annual figure around a problem the Pentagon believes is still under-reported.

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made May 1 at 2014 2:23 PM

MAJ Steve Sheridan — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:23:39 -0400

Sexual Assault it really bad, but I don't see it on the same level as Treason.

There should be 0 tolerance.

We should prosecute to the full extent of the law.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 1 at 2014 2:24 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:24:59 -0400

How did terrorism come into the mix?

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made May 1 at 2014 2:33 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:33:31 -0400

There is a mora; delima in our country, unless we start killing people for this crime it won't just go away. Even if you kill people for it, it would still happen. We just need better ways to protect ourselves, friends, and family.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 2:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:41:04 -0400

Enforcement, enforcement, enforcement.

Sexual assault is toxic to the very fabric of our organization. I cannot express how angry this makes me, that soldiers enlist to serve their nation and are betrayed by their own brothers and sisters. In a way it is treasonous, and it's definitely not handled as well as it should be.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made May 1 at 2014 2:46 PM

SFC Stephen Hester — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:46:56 -0400

Sexual Assault is a violent crime and should be dealt with appropriately. ZERO TOLERANCE.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 2:48 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:48:49 -0400

As wrong as it is it doesn't seem to be on the same level as treason.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 4:07 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:07:13 -0400

Increase in reporting is not necessarily a bad thing. It does not always mean that sexual assaults are happening more frequently in the present but rather more Soldiers are coming forward and reporting older incidences. A lot of the incidences could have happened in the past maybe even before entrance into military service. With the focus on sexual assault, victims now feel more comfortable reporting versus in past when SA was a low priority and the perps were only gettings slaps on the wrist if punished at all.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 6:52 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 18:52:51 -0400

"the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government." This is the definition of treason. So I believe that it shouldn't be treated as treason.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 8:39 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 20:39:30 -0400

I understand that you are making a referance to the last definition of the word treason, and yes it does "technically" fit, but the intent of the crime of treason would be an act against the government itself. I do not feel that it fits the intent of the law. I also do not thing that calling it treason would have any effect on how many sexual assaults happen. What I think would help reduce the number of sexual assaults is more people reporting it (it has the lowest report rate of any crime) AND soldiers being convicted of the crime more (if at all possible). I also think the command of the convicted soldier should be held accountable to some degree (possibly a letter of reprimand or something to that effect). I say this only because as leaders the welfare of our soldiers is paramount, and if we cannot either prevent our soldiers from being victims or being assailants then we are not doing the best we can.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2014 9:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 May 2014 21:37:21 -0400

It's an attack on your brothers and sisters, your family. It's poisoning your home, your air and water. We belong to a Department of the U.S. Government. We are, as an organization, a state, for we are our own community. Victims and on-lookers lose trust and confidence in their peers and superiors when these acts occur. It is 100% treason and should be treated as such, regardless of how it affects the number of future occurrences.

Response by LCpl Matt P. made May 1 at 2014 10:00 PM

LCpl Matt P. — Thu, 01 May 2014 22:00:23 -0400

changing the label wont change its frequency, swift prolonged and violent responses to its perpetration will set a standard no individual will be willing to risk having to endure.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2014 12:13 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 May 2014 00:13:29 -0400

This question is leaning towards "the ends justifies the means." Sexual assault is evil, and should be punished as such. Its not treason and I'm tired of SHARP taking precedence over training for war. I think we've reached a "T" in SHARP... seriously.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2014 4:50 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 May 2014 04:50:50 -0400

I've seen similar posts recently but have not read the actual study. The Army's SHARP program encourages reporting. If we are saying that reports have gone up 50% then this is a success story. No matter how we look at it, this is a touchy subject. Due to the limited number of reporting it will be a long time before we can find a correlation. We all know and have heard the stories of those who report and are not supported properly. The Army has a system and is doing a better job than ever in working the system. Try and imagine our Army today if there were no VA's, SHARP reps, and no training for Soldiers. I am not happy with where we are now but I am proud where we are going and I will do my best as a leader to support those needing support and educate those ignorant to the harassment they might be causing.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 7 at 2016 8:40 AM

SFC William Farrell — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 08:40:52 -0400

The only way to deal with effectively SSG Robert Burns is to take away the commander's prerogative to prosecute, hand it to an independent authority and prosecute the scums bags vigorously. They don't belong in my military!