Challenges for Research into Military Investigations

摘要

In cases of suspected violations of rules, regulations or the law by armed forcespersonnel, investigations are invariably mandatory. Military investigations differ fromwell-researched civilian criminal investigations. Differing from civilian policedetectives, most military investigators – as disciplinary supervisors and military policepersonnel – have a number of tasks to accomplish, which include leading in combat andensuring military readiness. Military investigations can lead to substantive negative orpositive consequences for military readiness, including mental health, unit cohesion andsubjective legal certainty. This impact on unit cohesion and mental health is influencedby any prior history of distress or trauma; military investigations are often preceded bycontravention of internal disciplinary acts, complaints and traumatic events. This studyexplores factors in the differing military and legal systems of Germany and the UnitedKingdom (UK) that might help military personnel to successfully conduct investigationswhile ensuring deployment readiness and maintaining human rights.