Many Convicted Of Sex CrimesIn Military Never Serve Time

A look at 1,000 military sexual assault cases show a record of random and inconsistent judgements. The Associated Press obtained the records through a freedom of information act request. Some seemingly strong cases are reduced to lesser charges. And many convicted of sex crimes never serve time in prison. Nearly two-thirds of 244 service members whose punishments were detailed in the records were not incarcerated. Instead they were fined, demoted, restricted to their bases or removed from the military. In more than 30 cases, a letter of reprimand was the only punishment. The Marine Corps is the most likely of the armed services to imprison offenders. The Air Force is most lenient.