CREW: Department of Defense: Department of the Army: Regarding Domestic Violence

On November 25, 2008, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a FOIA request with the Department of the Army seeking records concerning the Army’s policies towards soldiers accused of domestic violence acts. According to several press reports, the Army has been mishandling domestic violence cases, sometimes declining to prosecute after asking civilian prosecutors to transfer the cases. This is especially alarming as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is on the rise among returning soldiers, can be a contributing factor in these cases. Along with documents related to the Army’s official policies, CREW is seeking statistical data related to the number of soldiers arrested, prosecuted and discharged for domestic violence offenses, as well as the number of soldiers ordered to attend anger management classes and the number promoted despite domestic violence charges.