Citation

D'Ambrosio-Woodward T. Wis. Womens Law J. 2014; 29: 173-317.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Students of the University of Wisconsin Law School)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In May 2013, the Department of Defense released its 2012 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) report. It is two volumes, totaling 1,494 pages of information related to military sexual assault. While this seems an overwhelming amount of information, a thorough analysis reveals many inconsistencies, problems in the information gathering, and the absence of many vital statistics. Much of the report is focused on the Department of Defense and individual military branches touting their efforts at eradicating sexual assault, becoming akin to a "show and tell" exhibition rather than providing accurate, rigorous, and useful information. This Article discusses the numerous flaws in the data gathering and reporting process and how these errors are inhibiting the implementation of effective battle tactics on this front. First, this Article addresses the multiple different definitions used by different gathering organizations, which guarantees that the reports are not comparing the same information. Second, this Article explores how different branches of the military are sharing dissimilar data, making a truly accurate comparison of branch to branch impossible, while also affecting the overall calculations and reporting. Third, this Article explains that the widespread use of the terms "sexual assault" and "military sexual trauma" encompass a greater meaning in the report than in a civilian context, which aids the lack of understanding about the true issue. Fourth, this Article details how the report lists the most serious alleged crimes in the findings, though the final findings of the investigation or disciplinary process may not be reflected. Fifth, this Article clarifies the one crucial statistic that remains unknown: how many victims are not reporting5 for fear of retaliation. Though estimates are made in an attempt to gain an accurate picture of sexual crimes within the military, the estimates are made by a different group using a different definition, which brings the problem back to number one and two.

Language: en