QUESTIONS FOR NBC4 WASHINGTON SURVEY 1. Do you rely on civilian law enforcement to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases against members of your Guard unit? Yes. 2. Does your state UCMJ have any specific language regarding investigating or prosecuting sexual assault cases? If so, please provide some details or the specific statute. No. We only have criminal jurisdiction over PURELY military offenses. Sexual assault (and lessor included offenses) is not considered a purely military offense. Therefore, all unrestricted cases are referred to the civilian criminal authorities to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases. 3. Does your state UCMJ allow you to do the equivalent of an Article 32 hearing in the federal system? If so, under what circumstances? the Vermont Military Justice statute incorporates the federal code so this process is a part of the military criminal system. 4. Is there a statute of limitations for sexual assault against members of the military? If so, what is the length? As previously indicated, we only have jurisdiction over purely military offenses and sexual assault (and lessor included offenses) do not fall under this definition. Civilian criminal authorities investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases. 5. When was your UCMJ last updated? Vermont’s statute was amended in July 2014 and its regulation was revised effective January 2015. 6. Are you currently pursuing any changes to your UCMJ in relation to rape or sex assault? No. 7. In the last five years, have you held a court martial as a result of a sexual assault allegation within your Guard unit? We do not have jurisdiction over the crime of sexual assault and its lessor included offenses. These cases are prosecuted by civilian criminal authorities. 8. In the last five years, have you meted out any of the following punishments resulting from a sex assault allegation made against a member of your unit? GOMOR and/or letters or reprimand Dishonorable Discharge Other type of discharge (please specify) Forced resignation Forced retirement Other (please specify) 9. What would your Guard unit like, that you do not have now, to help you combat sexual assaults? 10. Anything else you would like to tell us about how your Guard unit investigates and prosecutes sexual assault cases? “The Vermont National Guard is committed to eliminating incidents of sexual assault by: -Sustaining senior leader involvement and engagement -Increasing awareness through robust education and prevention efforts -Providing methods to effectively intervene on behalf of their fellow soldier or airman -Improving our understanding of the problem to implement research-based initiatives to reduce the occurrence of incidents -Holding offenders accountable”