New White House Order Makes Military Sexual Harassment a Crime
February 02, 2022
On January 26, President Biden signed an Executive Order making sexual harassment an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Act.
This comes just a few weeks after lawmakers voted to approve sweeping changes to how sexual misconduct crimes are prosecuted in the military.
According to the White House, the order will strengthen our military’s response to domestic violence incidents and increase penalties for service members that share “intimate visual images” without permission.
In the coming months, these cases will be handled by an independent branch of military prosecutors, rather than the typical military chain of command. New crimes included in the order could also be handled by these independent prosecutors.
Nearly 6,290 service members reported being sexually assaulted in 2020, that’s an increase of about 1% from the previous year. Unfortunately, outside advocates say the actual number of crimes is likely much higher because sexual misconduct crimes often go unreported by victims who believe their attackers will not face any serious consequences.
If you are a veteran and sexual assault survivor interested in filing a claim for VA compensation, our team of compassionate legal professionals are here to help. Please call us at (800) 693-4800, or fill out a free claim evaluation form.