Press Release

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2009
Contact: Jon Houston, 202-225-7944
Maloney Amendment requires Navy to report progress on rape database
WASHINGTON, DC – An amendment by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) was adopted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647) today requiring the Department of the Navy report twice a year on its progress in implementing a criminal justice database, as mandated by Congress 21 years ago. “The Army and the Air Force have both established Defense Based Incident Reporting Systems (DIBRS) in compliance with the decades-old Congressional mandate and Department of Defense Directives,” Rep. Maloney said. “But the Navy has continued to delay time and time again.

“With the recent DoD report that indicated a rise of 8% in cases of sexual assault in the 3 military branches, there is no time left for the Navy to delay again. My amendment will require the Department of Defense to make bi-yearly reports on the Navy’s progress in implementing DIBRS. Our men and women in the armed forces should have their rights protected,” Maloney concluded.

For complete text of the amendment, visit: http://www.rules.house.gov/111/SpecialRules/hr2647/38maloney_hr2647_111.pdf

Background: DIBRS catalogues incidences of sexual assault and other crimes in the military, which is important because the data collected from the three service organizations will be useful in identifying trends and preventing sexual assault, suicide, rape and other crimes within the service branches.

The Maloney amendment would require the Department of Defense to submit a report on how far along the Navy is in completing the Navy Criminal Justice Information System (NCJIS) and its progress in ensuring that the NCJIS is reporting to the Defense Incident Based Reporting System (DIBRS). DIBRS was mandated by Congress 21 years ago and Congresswoman Maloney has been working on this issue for many years yet the Navy has not completed its DIBRS system. The Army and the Air Force both already have a functioning DIBRS

Letter to Gates link: http://maloney.house.gov/documents/women/sexassaulmilitary/040109%20Gates_DIBRS.pdf)

Letter response from Gates:
(http://maloney.house.gov/documents/women/sexassaulmilitary/041509%20DoDResponse_DIBRS.pdf)

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Related Issues: Oversight and Government Reform | Sexual Assaults in the Military