Team Investigating Racial Disparity in Military Justice Embarks on Installation Visits > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

In May, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks directed the creation of an internal review team to look into the root causes of racial disparities in the military’s investigative and justice systems. Now, members of that team have embarked on conducting a series of listening sessions and visits to military installations to undertake the work that will help them deliver a final report to the deputy secretary. 

“Racial disparities in the investigative and military justice systems have been a problem for far too long, and it is incumbent on the Department to take immediate action to correct these issues wherever they exist,” Hicks wrote in a memorandum delivered May 3 to Pentagon leadership, commanders of combatant commands and others. “Our people deserve nothing less.” 

In the memorandum, the internal review team was given three months to look into the root causes of racial disparities in the investigative and military justice systems. 

“The review will provide actionable recommendations that the Department can implement to improve policies, programs, processes and resources to address these disparities,” Hicks said of the team’s work. “It will incorporate ongoing work within the military departments and complement independent external reviews of this issue.” 

The team began work June 1 and will deliver the findings to Hicks by August 24.