Defense Secretary Says He'll Support Removing Sexual Offense Cases From Commanders - NPR

On Tuesday, he said he will support long-debated changes to the military justice system that would remove decisions on prosecuting sexual assault cases from military commanders.

On Tuesday, he said he will support long-debated changes to the military justice system that would remove decisions on prosecuting sexual assault cases from military commanders.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced he will support changes to the military justice system that would take sexual assault cases away from the chain of command and let independent military lawyers handle them.

In a statement on Tuesday, Austin said he will present President Biden with a series of recommendations aiming to "finally end the scourge of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military.".

Austin's announcement follows a report by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, whose mandate from Biden was to find solutions to improve accountability, prevention, climate and culture, and victim care and support involved in such cases.

"Sexual assault and harassment remain persistent and corrosive problems across the total force," Austin said at the time.

That would allow the cases to remain under military oversight but would be handled by criminal justice attorneys with relevant expertise rather than commanders who often lack legal training.