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Burchett/6SenatorSepulveda

S.S._____

ABILL
TopushtheU.S.militarytomovetheadministrationofcriminaljusticefromcommandingofficerstoprofessionalprosecutors
andjudges.

BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainCongressassembled,

SECTION1.SHORTTITLE

ThisactmaybecitedastheSepulvedaActof2015.

SECTION2.FINDINGS

Congressherebyfindsanddeclaresthat,
1)Ananonymousmilitarysurveyindicatedthattherewere26,000casesofunwantedsexualcontactinoneyearonly3,300
werereported.
2)Theproblemisgrowingmorepressingbecausefemaleveteransrepresentthemilitarysfastestgrowingpopulation,withan
estimated2.2million,or10percent,ofthecountrysveterans.
3)Veteranswhoareunabletogetdisabilitycompensationbenefitsforsexualtraumabecausetheydonothaveenough
paperworktosupporttheirclaims.
4)ThePentagonestimatesthatlessthan20percentofmilitaryrapevictimscomeforward.
5)Morethanadecadeaftermilitarydischarge,womenwhoexperiencedrepeatedorgangrapeduringtheirmilitaryservicehad
significantimpairmentofphysicalandemotionalhealthcomparedwithwomenwithnoorasinglerape.
6)

Currently,womenservein95percentofallArmyoccupationsandmakeupabout15.7percentoftheActiveArmy.
7)

AsofMay,theSecretaryoftheNavywastheonlymilitarydepartmentsecretarytorecommendanexceptiontopolicytokeep
positionsclosedtowomenonthreeclassesofshipsfrigates,minecountermeasureshipsandpatrolcoastalcraft.
8)From1973to2010thenumberofactivedutyenlistedwomeninthemilitaryhasgrownfromabout42,000to167,000.
9)
Reportsofsexualassaults
increased41percentfrom2012to2014,accordingtoDepartmentofDefensedata.
10)
BetweenJan.1,2004andDec.31,2013,thereweremorethan17,900complaintsofsexualassaultfromservicemember
victims,athirdofwhomsaidthattheyhadbeenretaliatedagainst.
11)BetweenJuly1,2012,andJune30,2013,theDepartmentofDefensereported3,553incidentsofsexualassault,a43percent
increasefromtheyearbefore.Duringthesameperiod,therewere219casualtiesinthewarsinIraqandAfghanistan.Thus,in
thatperiod,soldierswere15timesmorelikelytoberapedbyacomradethenkilledbyanenemy.
12)
13,900 of the victims of sexual assault were men.

SECTION3.STATUTORYLANGUAGE
A)ThisbillshallamendtheUSCodeSection832Article32SubsectionB(2)Wheneverpracticable,whenthejudgeadvocate
orotherhearingofficerisdetailedtoconductthepreliminaryhearing,theofficershallbeequaltoorsenioringradetpmilitary
counseldetailedtorepresentmilitarycounseldetailedtorepresenttheaccusedorthegovernmentatthepreliminaryhearing.If
anymilitarypersonneldogetsexuallyassaultedbysomeoneelseinthemilitary,thevictimhasarighttoafairtrialoutsideof
themilitaryjurisdiction,incourtwithofficialcourtjudgesandprosecutors.Ifthesexualassaulttakesplaceinaforeignnationor
overseainwhichtheUnitedStatesdoesnothavejurisdiction,theCongressshallempowerafederalcourttothecasewithout
thecourtmartialappointedtosaidcase.Theaccusedmustbebroughttotrialwithin120daysofthepreferralofchargesorthe
impositionsofrestrainttoensureaspeedytrial.Failuretoadheretoaspeedytrialshallresultinthedismissalofchargesagainst
accused.
B)WhenthesexualassaultisreportedtotheSexualAssaultResponseCoordinator(SARC),saidpersonshallimmediately
contacttheFederalCourtSystemtoallowafairtrailtothevictim.Theaccusedwillbegivenatemporaryrestrainingorderfrom
thevictimtoensurethesafetyforthevictimandtopreventanytypeofcontactbetweenthetwo.Oncethecaseisinthehandsof
theFederalcourts,themilitarymaynotinterferewithanyofthetrialprocedures.
C)Ifanymilitarypersonnelinterfereswiththeinvestigationsofanysexualassault,thepersonaccusedwillbefined$1,500tobe
paidinrestitutiontovictimandwillalsogetGeneralDischargeorOtherThanHonorableConditionsDischargedependingon
conviction.Thisbillshallberenewedeveryfiveyears.