Pentagon says 17-hundred cases of sexual assault reported in military last year
PENTAGON Last year, military criminal investigators received 17-hundred reports of sexual assault involving at least one member of the military. That's according to the latest Pentagon figures -- for the first year the military has tracked this particular statistic. The move follows high-profile sexual assault scandals at the Air Force Academy and among overseas troops.
But one statistic has been tracked in the past: the number of military members claiming to be victims of assault. That figure -- more than 12-hundred cases during 2004 -- shows a marked increase over previous years.
A military spokesman attributes the jump to greater awareness about sexual assault issues, allowing service members to feel more comfortable about reporting a crime.
The military defines sexual assault in this context as ranging from attempted or actual rape to unwanted touching.
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