Representative
Chris Tuck
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September 25, 2015
Fixes to Military Justice Move Forward
Dear Neighbors,
As a recently appointed member of the Alaska House Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, it is my responsibility to help protect and assist all members of our armed services. I am particularly concerned about those who are vulnerable to abuses of power because of their duty to follow orders.
In response to reports of misconduct, fraud and the victimization and sexual assault of military personnel and young recruitees in the Alaska National Guard, I began working closely with Guard leadership and other legislators to fix Alaska’s outdated and ineffective Code of Military Justice. Because of problems with the code it has seldom been used, and has contributed to a situation in which many very serious crimes have gone unpunished.
Above: Rep. Tuck presents a legislative citation honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Anchorage Woman’s Club, which was founded in 1915.
A federal investigation in 2014 during the Parnell Administration and a 2015 report of a special prosecutor appointed by Governor Walker verified allegations that guard leadership mishandled or ignored cases of fraud, adultery, inappropriate relationships and sexual assault.
Changes to the code will require that serious criminal offences be dealt with by civilian courts. Victims will be provided the same protections as any other citizen, and lawbreakers will be subject to the same consequences as everyone else. The Guard will still have jurisdiction over military offenses such as desertion, failure to obey orders and dereliction of duty.
At a recent hearing, the House Judiciary Committee heard from Lt. Forrest Dunbar, who has been tasked by Governor Walker’s Administration to assist with the process. We heard that the Alaska National Guard has never in its history given a dishonorable discharge and that the Guard currently lacks the ability to properly address misconduct and criminal activities.
Updating the code of military justice is just one step fixing the problems within the Guard, but it is a step in the right direction. By referring serious crimes to civilian courts, we will ensure that victims will have a chance to obtain real justice, and that the ordeals they have endured will not be ignored or swept under the rug.
As always, I’m here for you, so please keep in touch on matters important to you and your family!
Warm regards,
![[signed] Chris Tuck](../../images/signatures/46.gif)
Chris Tuck
Alaska State Representative
District 23 - Anchorage
Tuck’s Tips:
Want to practice balancing the budget in a variety of ways? Want to see how a particular strategy might play out before actually acting on it?
Play the Alaska Budget Balancing Game, next Tuesday, September 29, at the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) from noon to 1 p.m.
The game—unveiled to a large audience at the Forum on Alaska’s Fiscal and Economic Future last Saturday—explains our current fiscal challenge in a hands-on and easily understandable way. At this brown bag lunch session next Tuesday, there will be a game set up in the ISER conference room for anyone use, try out, or just watch. No speeches, but Cliff Groh, Chair of Alaska Common Ground, and Bob Loeffler, Visiting Professor of Public Policy at ISER, will be there to explain the game if you want to come try it.
ISER is located at 1901 Bragaw Street, Suite 301, in Anchorage. Thay location is one block north of East High Schooland about two blocks from the intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and Bragaw Street.
For more information:
Cliff Groh
952-3353
cliff.groh@gmail.com