---
title: "Organise a formal sexual-harassment complaint against the investigation duty"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/advise-on-an-application-for-a-stop-sexual-harassment-direction/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A64-LA20261022-10-US"
practice_area: "Military & Defence Law"
tier: "red"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Organise a formal sexual-harassment complaint against the investigation duty

> Build the chronology of the complaint, who received it, and the dates it was forwarded and investigated. Do not draft advice or a complaint.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/advise-on-an-application-for-a-stop-sexual-harassment-direction/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Military & Defence Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Red: Lawyer writes; AI may check, clarify or collect data |
| How AI is used | Build the chronology of the complaint, who received it, and the dates it was forwarded and investigated. Do not draft advice or a complaint. |
| What the lawyer must review | 10 U.S.C. § 1561(a) provides that a commanding officer or officer in charge of a unit, vessel, facility, or area of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who receives from a member of the command or a civilian employee under the officer's supervision a formal complaint alleging sexual harassment by a member of the armed forces or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense shall, to the extent practicable, direct an independent investigation. To the extent practicable, the complaint is forwarded to an independent investigator within 72 hours, the complaint or a detailed description is forwarded to the next superior officer authorised to convene a general court-martial, and the complainant is advised of the commencement. To the extent practicable, the investigation is completed not later than 14 days after it is commenced. Sexual harassment means conduct that constitutes the offense of sexual harassment punishable under 10 U.S.C. § 934 pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. Section 934 and those regulations were not opened. 10 U.S.C. § 832 is the preliminary hearing if charges are later referred to a general court-martial. You write the advice. Section 1561 is an investigation duty. It is not an order stopping the conduct. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Advise on an application for a stop sexual harassment direction](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/advise-on-an-application-for-a-stop-sexual-harassment-direction.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Build the chronology of the complaint, who received it, and the dates it was forwarded and investigated. Do not draft advice or a complaint.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- The 72-hour and 14-day periods are each qualified by the words to the extent practicable.
- An independent investigator is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense or a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force meeting the conditions in § 1561. Read subsection (d) of the definition before naming one.

## Sources

- [10 U.S.C. § 1561 (complaints of sexual harassment: independent investigation)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/1561) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [10 U.S.C. § 832 (Art. 32, preliminary hearing required before general court-martial)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/832) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*