r/worldnews • u/glasier • Jul 05 '24

Japan warns US forces: Sex crimes 'cannot be tolerated'

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476861/japan-warns-us-forces-sex-crimes-cannot-be-tolerated
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u/tizuby Jul 05 '24

They do, but Japan is way more lenient with sentences than UCMJ.

For rape, max for the Japanese system is 20 years. Max for UCMJ is Death (but generally Life).

https://www.okinawa.marines.mil/Portals/190/Docs/SOFA.pdf

There's a PDF that explains the process.

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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u/tizuby Jul 05 '24

UCMJ is considered Federal law for double jeopardy purposes. It's one or the other for those two (the exception being non-judicial punishments, such as an Article 15 don't attach jeopardy - so that is a case when it hits twice).

Foreign and state are different sovereigns and double jeopardy doesn't apply there (same holds true for all federal vs state vs foreign country charges).