Military sees fewer sex assault reports

[The Straight Story]

Military sees fewer sex assault reports
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press March 14, 2008

WASHINGTON - Reports of sexual assaults in the military declined last year, reversing a trend of significant increases over the past several years, according to draft documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

The number of sexual assaults reported by military members in 2007 was 2,688, compared with 2,947 in 2006, a decline of about 9 percent. Officials note, however, that some changes in the data-reporting make it difficult to compare numbers year to year. In 2005, there were about 2,400 sexual assaults reported.

The 2007 decline comes after sex assault reports jumped by about 24 percent in 2006 and nearly 40 percent in 2005 -- increases military officials attributed in part to more aggressive efforts to encourage victims to come forward.

Information about the report was provided by officials on condition of anonymity because it was not scheduled to be made public until Friday afternoon.

This is the fourth year the military has compiled detailed statistics on sexual assaults. The reporting methods have changed each year, complicating efforts to evaluate progress, or to determine whether it is the actual assaults or the reporting that is going up or down.

The cases involved members of the military who were either victims or accused of the assaults. The military counts rape, nonconsensual sodomy, indecent assault and attempts to commit any of those as sexual assault.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39526&dcn=todaysnews

It is only the 4th year they have compiled detailed stats???

[babylonsister]

1. I wonder if they're trying to minimize this:

very contradictory...

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/79791/

1/3 of Military Women Sexually Harrassed

Posted by Satyam Khanna, Think Progress at 7:31 AM on March 15, 2008.

Reports of sexual assault reports had jumped by about 24 percent in 2006 and nearly 40 percent in 2005.


The AP reports that one-third of women in the military and six percent of men said they were sexually harassed, according to the latest Pentagon survey:

The figure for women was worse than the previous finding several years ago but better than a similar survey taken in 1995, the Defense Department said in a report Friday. <…>

There were 2,688 sexual assaults reported last year by people in uniform, the figures showed. That was down about 9 percent from the 2,947 reported the year before. <…>

Reports of sexual assault reports had jumped by about 24 percent in 2006 and nearly 40 percent in 2005. Officials attributed the increases partly to more aggressive efforts to encourage victims to come forward.

[frogcycle]

4. bush ordered them to report fewer

[Kutjara]

2. I wonder if this means that the number of assaults has declined...

...or simply that victims have realized there's no point in reporting the crime.

[havocmom]

3. sadly, the latter seems more likely

There IS the chance the females are going vigilante too. If the system won't provide justice...

[Kutjara]

5. Loathe as I am to support violence...

...a few sets of rapists' testicles draped strategically around the barracks may encourage any wannabes to think carefully before acting.

[havocmom]

6. Yep. Hating violence, sadly, is not always the best way to stop it.

Some people won't change their behaviors unless they are made VERY uncomfortable.

edited to add: in short order, it will be 'nutting' season where I live. Lots of sheep... Hmmm, maybe there is a market for parts LOL

[Kutjara]

7. Well, people banded together to send helmets and body armor.

Why not sent a few gross of ram's testicles? It might end up saving more lives, one way or another, than any amount of Kevlar.

[liberal N proud]

8. Is the because they are turning their heads?

They just don't want to see them?

[annabanana]

9. From what I've read, reporting these kinds of crime can

result in retaliation and an increase of abuse. Is it any wonder people are reluctant to come forward>

[varkam]

10. Rape and sexual assault are crimes that are vastly underreported anyway...

Mostly due to emotions such as shame and fear as well as the victim being confused as to what actually happened. With respect to these numbers, it's interesting that they say it is difficult to compare annual numbers as they change the reporting methods yearly. Getting more detailed information on exactly what those changes were would be interesting.