geary county military criminal lawyers

Military service members who are facing sexual assault charges may not get a fair trial without help from an experienced military criminal defense attorney. With all the criticism the military has faced in the past, prosecutors take aggressive action against service members who are accused of sex crimes.

Decisions that are made by high-ranking military officials are judged by the media, citizens, and political leaders. Although military laws are supposed to ensure service members always receive a fair trial, the military has revised policies dealing with sexual assault. As a result of these restructured policies, there has been a drastic rise in the service members who are charged with sexual assault.

Military leaders have made positive efforts to stop sexual assault, which includes educational courses offered to military members that are designed to prevent sex crimes. However, the pressure the military faces in regards to preventing sex crimes typically means any service member who is accused of sexual misconduct will face criminal charges. There is even a military unit that only focuses on investigating and prosecuting service members who are accused of sex crimes. If you are a member of the military who has been accused of sexual assault, here are a few reasons why you should contact a military criminal defense attorney immediately.

Special Victims Unit

There is a specialized military prosecution unit that was established due to the high rate of sexual assault convictions in the military. It is crucial that service members who are facing sexual assault charges retain a private military defense attorney who can successfully build a strong defensive case and protect their clients rights.

The military also offers special programs and services for sexual assault victims. If an alleged victim requests, then he or she is allowed to have an advocate present when being questioned by a defense attorney. When a defense attorney is not experienced handling sexual assault cases, a sufficient amount of evidence could be lost due to lack of practice. There are even situations that allow alleged victims to have an advocate by their sides when they testify in court. These services are provided to the individual regardless of his or her credibility.

Sexual assault in the military is defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 120), and what constitutes sexual assault in the military is constantly expanding. Incidents between civilians that is thought of as sexual harassment will likely be considered sexual assault in military terms. Furthermore, if any alcohol or illegal substance was involved in the alleged occurrence, it will increase the odds of a guilty verdict for a service member. The military has broadened its definition of sexual assault to the point where many military cases would have been dropped by civilian enforcement agencies.

The Consequences of a Sexual Assault Conviction

If a military member has been charged with sexual assault, then properly preparing a defensive strategy is vital. Many individuals wait to seek guidance from an attorney until they have been arrested and charged with sexual assault, which can waste valuable time. From the moment a service member is under investigation for a sex crime, he or she should have military defensive team on their side. If a military member is found guilty of sexual assault, then he or she could face the following consequences:

Rank demotion Lost pay Jail sentence Punitive discharge

Furthermore, an individual found guilty of sexual assault is required by law to register in the national database as a sex offender. Not only could a guilty verdict ruin a service member’s military career, it could also a wide range of opportunities in the civilian world. Registered sex offenders locations can be easily accessed by neighbors, and details of a sex offenders charges can also be easily found online.

Although any criminal conviction can have a negative effect on a service member’s career, he or she will also be branded and shunned by society if convicted of a sex crime. Society is not as forgiving when it involves an individual who has been convicted of sexual assault.