BLACK TROOPS TWICE AS LIKELY TO FACE PUNISHMENT
Group combs through Pentagon data from 2006 to 2015 for its report
Black troops are far more likely than their white comrades to face court- martial or other forms of military punishment, according to a study released Wednesday.
Black service members were as much as two times more likely than white troops to face discipline in an average year, according to an analysis by Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy organization for military justice and victims of sexual assault. The group combed through Pentagon data from 2006 to 2015 for its report.
USA TODAY received an advance copy of the study.
“Over the past decade, racial disparities have persisted in the military justice system without indications of improvement,” the report states. “These disparities are particularly striking for black service members, who face military justice or disciplinary action at much higher rates than white service members in every service branch. In fact, the size of the disparity between white and black
service members’ military justice involvement has remained consistent over the years, and in the case of the Air Force and Marine Corps has increased.”
A spokesman for the Pentagon said officials will review the report. “It is long- standing Department of Defense policy that service members must be afforded the opportunity to serve in an environment free from unlawful racial discrimination,” said Johnny Michael, a Pentagon spokesman. “The department will review any new information concerning implementation of and compliance with this policy.”
The military services provided differing sets of data in response to the request from Protect Our Defenders, making comparisons among the services difficult. For example, the Air Force provided proceedings from courts- martial and non- judicial punishment from 2006 to 2015, while the Marine Corps supplied guilty findings for courts- martial and non- judicial punishment for the same period.
MARINE CORPS’ DISCIPLINE
The researchers found that the Marine Corps had some of the most significant issues with race, particularly in instances where the harshest penalties were possible. In an average year, black Marines were 2.61 times more likely than whites to receive a guilty finding at a general court- martial. The data show that guilty findings overall plummeted over that period, peaking in 2010, a period that coincided with peak deployments to war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The study found that black airmen were 71% more likely than whites in the Air Force to face court- martial or nonjudicial punishment, discipline meted out for less serious offenses.
Findings for the Army and Navy show disparities as well. Black soldiers were 61% more likely to face court- martial than whites; and black sailors were 40% more likely than whites to be court- martialed.
LACK OF MINORITY OFFICERS
Christensen speculated that the lack of diversity in the military may play a role in unequal justice for black troops. In 2016, about 78% of military officers were white, and 8% were black.
“You would imagine that the closer relationships will be with white male subordinates,” he said. “Hence, they probably get the benefit of the doubt that the African- American males don’t.”
The study shows themilitary isn’t immune from the same racial issues that affect civilian police and courts, saidMichael Wishnie, clinical professor of law at Yale University. Stereotypes and implicit bias can affect who is arrested and charged and who gets a plea deal.
“This report cries out for action,” he said.