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Military Law – Week 4 Jay Canham

Military Law – Week 4 Jay Canham. UNLAWFUL FRATERNIZATION. Fraternization. Any over-familiarity that erodes the senior-subordinate relationship. . Unlawful Fraternization. The crime of fraternization interferes with a unit’s ability to accomplish the mission.

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Military Law – Week 4 Jay Canham

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  1. Military Law – Week 4Jay Canham UNLAWFUL FRATERNIZATION

  2. Fraternization Any over-familiarity that erodes the senior-subordinate relationship.

  3. Unlawful Fraternization The crime of fraternization interferes with a unit’s ability to accomplish the mission. Unduly familiar relationships between seniors and subordinates are: • Contrary to military custom • Do not respect the roles each party required to play in obtaining mission accomplishment. • Call into question the ability of the senior to lead and to make impartial decisions.

  4. The Effect Fraternization has on a Unit Actual or apparent preferential treatment will destroy a unit by: • Compromising the chain of command by an erosion of respect for the senior leaders; and • By creating the appearance of favoritism, which in turn destroys morale. • Hindering the ability of a leader to perform by undermining his or her command authority and calling into question a senior’s objectivity; and • By creating situations in combat that could result in lives being placed at risk.

  5. Traditional Fraternization: Officer and Enlisted “One-step” Method of Prosecution: • Need only prove the relationship exists. Said relationship is presumed to be prejudicial to good order and discipline. • Exception: Chief Petty Officer-Junior Enlisted

  6. Modern Fraternization Officers and Officers or Enlisted and Enlisted. “Two-step” Method of Prosecution: • Need to prove relationship existed; and • Need to prove an unduly familiar relationship is actually prejudicial to good order and discipline.

  7. Dynamics of Fraternization • Gender neutral: Does not have to involve intimate relationships between members of the opposite sex. • Junior Member’s Accountability. Traditionally, the senior was the one held accountable. Under current policies, the senior has primary responsibility for deterring fraternization, but both parties are now held accountable!

  8. Dynamics of Fraternization Special Relationships. Commands have also defined unlawful fraternization in regards to their own special needs. • Staff/Instructor-Student Relationships. • Recruiters-Recruits/Applicants • Service Members who are Married

  9. Fraternization Prohibited Personal Relationships • Dating& Cohabitation & Intimate/sexual relationships • Gambling Prohibited business relationships • Loaning/borrowing money. • Business Partnerships • Commercial Solicitation

  10. “Proper or Lawful” Fraternization • Community functions • Religious activities • Unit based social functions • “Right Arm Night”/ “Boss’s Night” • Athletic events • Routine, limited business transactions like: • Landlord/Tenant relationships • One-time transactions like the sale of a vehicle or home.

  11. CONSEQUENCES OF FRATERNIZATION • Counselingand/or an oral/written reprimand; And/or • Order to cease improper relationship; And/or • Reassignmentand/or adverse evaluation report; And/or • Non-judicial punishment (NJP) (Article 15, UCMJ); And/or

  12. CONSEQUENCES OF FRATERNIZATION • Impose a bar to reenlistment; And/or • “Flagging” – puts a halt to all favorable personnel actions for a Service-Member (i.e. promotion, awards, and schooling). • Administrative Separation. • Courts-Martial

  13. Prosecuting Fraternization • A violation of Article 92 (Failure to Obey Order or Regulation). • A violation of Article 134 (General Article – Fraternization) • A violation of Article 133– Conduct Unbecoming an Officer.

  14. Prosecuting Fraternization • Constitutional Challenges: Recall the United States Supreme Court opinion in Parker v. Levy, 417 U.S. 733 (1974), which recognized the military’s special need for discipline, against which certain personal liberties may pale. • Freedom of Association. This right is afforded less weight because of the negative impact fraternization has on discipline. • Vagueness. The existence of a long acknowledged custom, and the circumstances surrounding the misconduct, make the prohibition against fraternization specific.

  15. Prosecuting Fraternization • Equal Protection. Officers have always been held to a higher standard of conduct • Privacy. No right to privacy when it compromises discipline.

  16. Summation • Unlawful fraternization is a viable issue in today’s armed forces. • Unique among crimes in that the acts alone are not wrongful per se, but rather becomes a criminal offense because of the circumstances under which they are performed. • Fraternization is a significant leadership challenge for the CO.

  17. Summation • A CO is tasked with developing camaraderie and respect among the ranks while maintaining good order and discipline. • A balancing test of these competing interests requires both a common sense approach and positive leadership to avoid problems caused by unlawful fraternization.

  18. SeXualHarrassment

  19. DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

  20. Impact of Sexual Harassment on a Military Unit • If a member of a command is being sexually harassed or pressured, it affects the ability of that service member to perform as part of a team. • This particular crime will impact unit readiness and mission accomplishment.

  21. Sexual Harassment and Aggravating Conduct in the Military • Unlawful conduct as a condition of one’s job. • Unlawful conduct becomes a basis for career or employment decisions. Examples (1) and (2) above, are sometimes referred to as “Quid pro quo.” This is a Latin term meaning “this for that” and is understood as a “trade.” • Unlawful conduct creates a hostile environment

  22. Essence of Sexual Harassment Inappropriateand unacceptable behavior in the work environment and usually meets the following criteria: • It must be unwelcome • Be sexual in nature • Occur or impact the work environment

  23. Characteristics of Sexual Harassment • Deliberate acts • Repeated • Involves a specific target • Will adversely impact on work productivity

  24. Issues Surrounding Sexual Harassment • “Workplace”: An expansive term for military members. • Continuous Conduct: Repetitive as opposed to a single incident of poor judgment. • Non-gender specific: Women can victimize men, and members of the same sex can victimize each other.

  25. Issues Surrounding Sexual Harassment • Peer Harassment: Not restricted to only superiors harassing subordinates. • Reprisals: Services regulations strictly prohibit reprisals against the victim. • False Complaints of Sexual Harassment:Taking disciplinary action against individuals who file false complaints.

  26. GENERAL METHODS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT • Physical– Person is touched. • Verbal – Conversations containing sexual innuendoes. • Nonverbal – Eye contact or gestures. • Environmental – Objects displayed in the workplace.

  27. EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT • The display of sexual material which include sexist cartoons, magazines or pictures; • Sexual jokes; • Comments on appearance of a sexual nature; • Threats; • Whistles or sexual gestures ranging from subtle hints to direct propositions; • Repeated requests for dates; • Physical contact.

  28. ENFORCING SEXUAL HARASSMENT STANDARDS • Counseling • Verbal or written warning • Other methods …Transfer or Administrative Processing • NJP or Courts-Martial

  29. Article 93 of the UCMJ Charge mandates: • That the victim be subject to the orders of the accused • That the accused was cruel towards, oppressed or maltreated that person Article 93 was modified in 1984 to include sexual harassment

  30. Other Articles used in Prosecuting Sexual Harrassment • Briberyor Graft….under Article 134 under the UCMJ. • Dereliction of Duty….Article 92 of the UCMJ • Disrespect ….under Article 91 of the UCMJ. • Provoking Speech or Gestures….Article 117 of the UCMJ • Extortion….under Article 127 under the UCMJ • Assault: • Articles 90, 91, or 128 for various assaults; • Article 120 for rape; • Article 125 for sodomy; • Article 134 for indecent acts or exposure; • Article 134 for indecent assaults and adultery.

  31. Preventing Sexual Harassment • CO/Supervisors/Leaders: Have both the obligationand authorityto prevent sexual harassment because Service Regulations in regards to sexual harassment can be summed up in three words: zero tolerance policy. • Educate & Monitor • Establish an internal grievance procedure: • Take all complaints seriously • Promptly resolve complaints. • Appoint extensively trained people to receive complaints. • Maintaining confidentiality to the extent possible.

  32. Role of the Victim in the Harassment Process • Under sexual harassment guidelines, the victim is encouraged to inform the harasser. This is not a requirement. • This guideline is also an attempt to resolve the situation at the lowest level. • The next step is to bring the issue to the attention of the supervisor. Some services impose deadlines on the actual complaint in an effort to force timely reporting of a serious crime. • Once the proper supervisor is advised of the problem, the entire chain of command is put on “constructive” notice. • The supervisor has full authority and responsibility to fully investigate the situation.

  33. Military Law – WEEK 4Jay Canham UNLAWFUL FRATERNIZATION

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