Canadian Forces have trouble tracking sexual offence convictions

While military commanders have pointed to an increase in criminal investigations as proof the fight against sexual misconduct is working, military justice officials admit they don’t know how many service members are ever actually convicted.

It’s one of a number of statistical deficiencies that military officials say they are working to address _ a fix experts say is essential for instilling confidence in victims and ensuring cases are being handled properly.

Defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance told a Senate committee last week that military police are on track to see a 22 per cent increase in the number of reported sexual offences from the previous year.

“About half of these are old cases,’’ Vance said. “This demonstrates to me that at least some of these victims now believe, perhaps for the first time, that we will hear them and take action.’’

According to the Canadian Forces National Investigative Service, military police opened 174 investigations into alleged sexual offences in 2015, as compared to 106 during just the first six months of 2016. Officials say the majority of cases were sexual assault.

But those numbers, which Vance referenced in his testimony, are only the beginning. Of those 280 cases, 49 actually led to charges. As for convictions, that’s where things get muddy.