Jeremy Sivits
Encyclopedia
Jeremy C. Sivits is a former U.S. Army
reservist
, one of several soldier
s charged and convicted by the U.S. Army in connection with the 2003-2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Baghdad
, Iraq
during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq
. He was a member of the 372nd Military Police
Company during this time.
Sivits was the man who took many of the photographs at the prison which became notorious after some were first aired on the 60 Minutes II
news television
show. His father, David Sivits, a former serviceman, claims that Sivits was trained as a mechanic
, not a prison guard, and that he "was just doing what he was told to do." Sivits was the first soldier convicted in connection with the Abu Ghraib incidents.
with the following:
On May 12, 2004 Sivits was moved to detention separate from other military police charged with misconduct
. Some reports say he has admitted that senior commanders in his unit would have stopped the abuse if they had known about it; others say that he has said that the abuse was condoned by commanders.
. Sivits pled guilty and testified against some of his fellow guards. Sivits's testimony included reporting seeing Charles Graner
punching a naked detainee "with a closed fist so hard in the temple that it knocked the detainee unconscious", and seeing Lynndie England
stomping on the feet and hands of detainees with her boots.
The court martial sentenced Sivits to the maximum sentence, one year of confinement, in addition to being discharged
for bad conduct and demoted from specialist to private
. Human Rights Watch
was not allowed in the court room.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
reservist
Reservist
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed...
, one of several soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s charged and convicted by the U.S. Army in connection with the 2003-2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. He was a member of the 372nd Military Police
372nd Military Police
The 372nd Military Police Company is a company law enforcement unit within the U.S. Army Reserve. The unit is based out of Cresaptown, Maryland. Eleven former members of this unit were charged and found guilty in the Abu Ghraib scandal. Another member of the Company, Joseph Darby, was awarded the...
Company during this time.
Sivits was the man who took many of the photographs at the prison which became notorious after some were first aired on the 60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II was a weekly primetime news magazine television program that was intended to replicate the "signature style, journalistic quality and integrity" of the original 60 Minutes series.It aired on CBS on Wednesdays, then later moved to Fridays at 8 p.m...
news television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show. His father, David Sivits, a former serviceman, claims that Sivits was trained as a mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
, not a prison guard, and that he "was just doing what he was told to do." Sivits was the first soldier convicted in connection with the Abu Ghraib incidents.
Charges
On May 5, 2004: Sivits was charged under Uniform Code of Military JusticeUniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
with the following:
- ConspiracyConspiracy (crime)In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to maltreat detainees - Maltreatment of detainees
- Dereliction of dutyDereliction of dutyDereliction of duty is a specific offense under United States Code Title 10,892. Article 92 and applies to all branches of the US military. A service member who is derelict has willfully refused to perform his duties or has incapacitated himself in such a way that he cannot perform his duties...
for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuseAbu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseBeginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
, crueltyCrueltyCruelty can be described as indifference to suffering, and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. If this is supported by a legal or social framework, then receives the name of perversion. Sadism can also be related to this form of action or concept....
and maltreatment
On May 12, 2004 Sivits was moved to detention separate from other military police charged with misconduct
Misconduct
A misconduct is a legal term meaning a wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts....
. Some reports say he has admitted that senior commanders in his unit would have stopped the abuse if they had known about it; others say that he has said that the abuse was condoned by commanders.
Trial
His special court-martial (sentence is not more than one year confinement) was held on May 19, 2004 in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Sivits pled guilty and testified against some of his fellow guards. Sivits's testimony included reporting seeing Charles Graner
Charles Graner
Charles A. Graner, Jr., is a former U.S. Army reservist who was convicted of prisoner abuse in connection with the 2003–2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal...
punching a naked detainee "with a closed fist so hard in the temple that it knocked the detainee unconscious", and seeing Lynndie England
Lynndie England
Lynndie Rana England is a former United States Army reservist who served in the 372nd Military Police Company. She was one of eleven military personnel convicted in 2005 by Army courts-martial in connection with the torture and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad during the occupation...
stomping on the feet and hands of detainees with her boots.
The court martial sentenced Sivits to the maximum sentence, one year of confinement, in addition to being discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
for bad conduct and demoted from specialist to private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
was not allowed in the court room.
See also
- Megan AmbuhlMegan AmbuhlMegan M. Ambuhl is a former United States Army reservist and member of the 372nd Military Police Company who was convicted in court-martial in connection with the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse.-Life and career:Ambuhl was born in Centreville, Virginia...
- Javal Davis
- Lynndie EnglandLynndie EnglandLynndie Rana England is a former United States Army reservist who served in the 372nd Military Police Company. She was one of eleven military personnel convicted in 2005 by Army courts-martial in connection with the torture and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad during the occupation...
- Ivan FrederickIvan FrederickIvan Frederick II , called Chip Frederick, of Buckingham County, Virginia, is a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He was the highest in rank of the seven U.S. military police personnel who have been charged with torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, all of whom were...
- Charles GranerCharles GranerCharles A. Graner, Jr., is a former U.S. Army reservist who was convicted of prisoner abuse in connection with the 2003–2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal...
- Sabrina Harman
- 372nd Military Police Company, the MP unit assigned to Abu Ghraib
- Standard Operating ProcedureStandard Operating Procedure (film)Standard Operating Procedure is a 2008 documentary film which explores the meaning of the photographs taken by U.S. military police at the Abu Ghraib prison in late 2003, the content of which revealed the torture and abuse of its prisoners by U.S. soldiers and subsequently resulted in a public...
External links
- Jeremy Sivits: Fired and Demoted? Plus, a primer: How do courts-martial work? What are the punishments? Can you appeal?, Slate (magazine)Slate (magazine)Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
, May 19, 2004