Expanded UCMJ Jurisdiction Over Contractors

<p>In the wake of Abu Ghraib and other highly publicized incidents such as the alleged murder of Iraqi civilians by Blackwater employees the call for ensuring accountability for contractors working with the U.S. government abroad reached an all time high. Many felt contractors working alongside the military overseas fell into a jurisdictional gap and escaped justice for their alleged crimes. This perception is especially troublesome in the context of counterinsurgencies where winning the hearts and minds of the local populace is essential.In response to such concerns Congress expanded Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) jurisdiction over civilians by adding those serving with or accompanying the armed forces in contingency operations within its reach. In doing so Congress breathed potential life into a part of the code that has remained dormant for over 30 years. However statutory construction constitutionality and DoD implementation will all serve to limit the utility of this new option for ensuring contractor accountability. Accordingly it is necessary to consider the potential reach of the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) another Congressional attempt to close the jurisdictional gap.--Abstract.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>