CW2 Private RallyPoint Member88064<div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-11951"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image">
<a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Finnocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook'
target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Innocent+until+proven+guilty%2C+is+this+really+true+in+the+Army%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Finnocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army&via=RallyPoint"
target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a>
<a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AInnocent until proven guilty, is this really true in the Army?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/innocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army"
target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a>
</div>
<a class="fancybox" rel="c920c2618168293438fc986476f783de" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/011/951/for_gallery_v2/Innocent_until_proven_guilty__is_this_really_true_in_the_Army_.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/011/951/large_v3/Innocent_until_proven_guilty__is_this_really_true_in_the_Army_.jpg" alt="Innocent until proven guilty is this really true in the army " /></a></div></div>I am not judging or defending anybody, I want the honest opinion of service members. On the recent high-profile case (no names please); of what was accused proven guilty? Before any evidence was shown, did you believe the he was guilty of the charges? Is perception stronger than legal verdict?Innocent until proven guilty, is this really true in the Army?2014-03-29T09:39:48-04:00CW2 Private RallyPoint Member88064<div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-11951"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image">
<a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Finnocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook'
target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Innocent+until+proven+guilty%2C+is+this+really+true+in+the+Army%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Finnocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army&via=RallyPoint"
target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a>
<a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AInnocent until proven guilty, is this really true in the Army?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/innocent-until-proven-guilty-is-this-really-true-in-the-army"
target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a>
</div>
<a class="fancybox" rel="ae015e324d3b0d79783b993af28fd578" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/011/951/for_gallery_v2/Innocent_until_proven_guilty__is_this_really_true_in_the_Army_.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/011/951/large_v3/Innocent_until_proven_guilty__is_this_really_true_in_the_Army_.jpg" alt="Innocent until proven guilty is this really true in the army " /></a></div></div>I am not judging or defending anybody, I want the honest opinion of service members. On the recent high-profile case (no names please); of what was accused proven guilty? Before any evidence was shown, did you believe the he was guilty of the charges? Is perception stronger than legal verdict?Innocent until proven guilty, is this really true in the Army?2014-03-29T09:39:48-04:002014-03-29T09:39:48-04:00SFC William Swartz Jr88067<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>To be honest, everything I have ever seen or dealt with while I was in was the opposite for us servicemembers, we were guilty till proven innocent.Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 29 at 2014 9:43 AM2014-03-29T09:43:21-04:002014-03-29T09:43:21-04:00SGT Craig Northacker125307<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The only thing that is innocent is expecting a fair shake if the presiding officers are intent on a conviction to begin with. Defense attorneys were always the new guys - loading the case up has been around for a very long time.Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 12 at 2014 10:26 PM2014-05-12T22:26:09-04:002014-05-12T22:26:09-04:00SSG (ret) William Martin125323<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Based on my 15 years of service, it has been guilty until proven innocent. I know because I have been there. I was lucky because I had solid and physical proof and witnesses to say I was not this or that or I never said or did "X".Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 12 at 2014 10:42 PM2014-05-12T22:42:43-04:002014-05-12T22:42:43-04:00SFC Private RallyPoint Member125473<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Perception plays into everything in the military. I believe SJA's would like it to be innocent until proven guilty, while leaders allow that SM to have the stigma that comes with the allegations. Investigators put forth the information that comes from statements and other investigative factors to the SJA before they are actually titled with anything. The stigma that comes with allegations is where, we as leaders, fail our Soldiers. Leaders need to allow proper law enforcement personnel and lawyers to provide evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the SM is guilty before putting one's business out to the organization.Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 2:02 AM2014-05-13T02:02:14-04:002014-05-13T02:02:14-04:00PO1 Private RallyPoint Member125493<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Unfortunately we live in a society where people are "guilty until proven innocent" it really does not matter what branch of service your are in,that whole slogan "innocent until proven guilty" sadly doesn't hold much value in or outside the military it's sort of like the terms "love" and "hate" we as a society have devalued the true meaning of those words by using them nonchalantly and using them for their non intended purposes.Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 4:53 AM2014-05-13T04:53:15-04:002014-05-13T04:53:15-04:00SPC Stephen Bobchin141304<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It is always guilty until, proven guilty, as you will almost never be found innocent in the military. If they think you've done it, you've done it (unless you are a high ranking officer, then nothing ever happened.)Response by SPC Stephen Bobchin made Jun 2 at 2014 6:04 AM2014-06-02T06:04:15-04:002014-06-02T06:04:15-04:00SGT Private RallyPoint Member200553<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It's not really true anywhere...Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2014 5:53 PM2014-08-11T17:53:05-04:002014-08-11T17:53:05-04:00SGM Private RallyPoint Member298504<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>W01 Aleman--no it isn't. It's not true outside the military either. It varies from command to command and it varies by personality and alleged offense. After all, people are people, but the military mentality can be unusually harsh. Perceptions are indeed reality. People who invoke their rights in particular can be ostracized unfairly. And yet that is one very reason you have such rights--the potential abuse of power. I've said many times in RP and cautioned many a commander--Sure, where there is smoke there is usually fire, but there can also be arson! I've seen people continue to question soldiers who have invoked their rights; very weak gossip/hearsay cases where it was clearly a railroad job because someone in the chain (sadly a CSM) wanted to demonstrate power...trust me here, the good, the bad, the ugly. However, there is good. The system does work, it just takes time and it really helps to be right. That's why you usually have the most experienced JAG officers on the defense, not the offense. Some are excellent, and a defendant has his choice of the whole Army JAG Corps under certain conditions. You have to demonstrate real moral courage to stand up for yourself when the Green Machine comes at you with the Shaft. And yes, I have done it for myself and for others, and lived to tell the tale.Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 6:56 PM2014-10-28T18:56:34-04:002014-10-28T18:56:34-04:00MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca298537<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It's true NOWHERE today. Everyone is found guilty in the court of public opinion before they even get to trial because the media reports assumptions and theories not facts before the cases.Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 28 at 2014 7:11 PM2014-10-28T19:11:47-04:002014-10-28T19:11:47-04:00SGT Craig Northacker440914<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Depends upon your relationship with the one bringing the charges. I have seen great justice done as well as great injustice.Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jan 28 at 2015 1:06 PM2015-01-28T13:06:41-05:002015-01-28T13:06:41-05:00SSG Roger Ayscue711943<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Of course not. If you think it is you never had a member of your unit get tried by Courts Martial. The accused can not carry on with his life until the trial, hence he is not treated the same, ergo not considered innocent.Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 1 at 2015 7:24 AM2015-06-01T07:24:16-04:002015-06-01T07:24:16-04:00Capt Private RallyPoint Member711949<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Been a LONG time ago, but, I served on two court marshals. One pleaded guilty and we only had the punishment phase. The other both trial and punishment.<br /><br />After those two experiences I have had strong faith in the military justice system.Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 7:35 AM2015-06-01T07:35:15-04:002015-06-01T07:35:15-04:00SPC Private RallyPoint Member711953<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>To be considered "innocent until proven guilty" is counter productive. <br /><br />That is why so many criminals are eleged, even after proof to the contrary of them being innocent.Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 7:38 AM2015-06-01T07:38:05-04:002015-06-01T07:38:05-04:00SrA Edward Vong719992<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not sure about the Army, but when I was in the USAF, one of my supervisors always told me "everyone here is guilty till proven innocent."Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 3 at 2015 5:18 PM2015-06-03T17:18:10-04:002015-06-03T17:18:10-04:002014-03-29T09:39:48-04:00