PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FOUNDATION

Founded in 2011, Protect Our Defenders Fdn (POD) filled a void by providing a safe space for survivors of military sexual assault and harassment to get help, build community and affect change. Through grassroots mobilization, public education, pro bono legal services, research and analysis, and policy reform, we work to ensure those who serve in our military and their families are afforded a safe and respectful environment free from harassment and abuse. Our work with survivors, their families, and current and former military members directly informs these efforts. We work collaboratively to engage stakeholders and draw on their personal experience to promote change from outside and from within the military. We seek to ensure the fundamental military justice system reforms we helped pass are properly implemented to ensure a fair and equitable system, while also providing pro bono legal services through our national network of attorneys, which we want to expand.

Eliminate misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliatory behavior in our nation's military through legal reforms and leadership accountability. Protect the rights and support the lives of veterans, service members, their families and affected civilians by: Honoring, supporting and giving voice to survivors whose experiences, ideas and advocacy inspire and inform the changes needed in the Department of Defense. Advocating for reforms that ensure all have access to a fair, transparent, professional, and impartially administered system of justice. Preventing future sexual assault and harassment by creating enduring change in the legal system and culture of the armed services, ensuring service members and their families have a safe, equitable, and rewarding service experience and a successful transition to civilian life. Expanding the Legal Services Program by increasing awareness and the number of pro bono attorneys nationwide.

Collaborating closely with survivors, we combine their insights with those of our highly experienced staff and consultants, board members, stakeholders and military and veteran representatives. We leverage these collective insights to provide pro bono legal services, collaborate with the media, inform research, and develop policy solutions. Educating the public, congress and military leaders with evidence-based information and compelling stories, we reform military policy and culture. Our policy and administrative reforms help create an environment of dignity and respect, where people can serve with confidence that regardless of their gender, race, religion, or orientation they have a workplace free from misogyny, discrimination, sexual harassment and assault that allows them to reach their highest potential. These reforms are essential not only for service members but also for their families who deserve a safe home environment free from sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse

POD has brought important sexual assault cases and this crisis to light. Collaborated with award winning national media, contributed to over 5,000 news stories to-date. Helped ignite a growing movement of survivors, stakeholders and leaders. Mentored, trained, and empowered survivor advocates to become movement leaders. Provided legal referrals and case assistance to 1,014 (73 in 2022) survivors. Provided other assistance to over 2,000 survivors. Attorneys in our pro bono network have donated over $12 million ($2.7million in 2021) in legal services. Policy Reform: Since founding, POD has proposed and/or successfully advocated for over 27 significant changes to federal law related to victim rights and justice system improvements. In 2017, POD's seminal Racial Disparities in Military Justice Report led Congress to mandate an independent US Government Accountability Office investigation. In both 2015 and 2016, Human Rights Watch (HRW), in collaboration with POD, released two reports exposing retaliation against victims of sexual assault and their lack of recourse. In 2019, successfully advocated for 6 major changes in federal law, including expanding the right to a special victims attorney for military families who are victims of domestic violence and creating much needed sentencing guidelines.In 2020, POD Racial Disparities in Military Justice Part II led Congressional hearings and investigations within the Armed Forces resulting in changes to administrative practices and procedures. In 2021, POD helped pass our signature reform proposal, which means military prosecutors not commanders will determine whether an allegation of sexual assault, rape, domestic abuse or murder is prosecuted. Congress created an independent office to make this determination. We reformed the sentencing process removing the ability of the accused to request sentencing by military court members (jury) instead of a judge. Also, sexual harassment is now a specific criminal offense. And the DoD will now be required to inform survivors of domestic violence of civilian organizations like POD who provide free legal representation. In 2022, POD successfully worked to enhance last year's historic law, which took more prosecutorial duties and judicial functions from commanders. In addition, we proposed and successfully actively supported: a random selection of court members, which until now was selected by the accused's commander; Sexual Harassment will now be investigated by investigators outside of chain of command; and the DoD will now be required to provide referrals to organizations like POD that provide assistance to victims of sexual assault.