Military Courts-Martial: An Overview

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA463015 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The recent reports of abuse of prisoners held by the military in Iraq have raised questions about how the Armed Forces discipline and punish those who commit crimes or violate the rules and regulations of the military. Congress, under the authorities vested in it, enacted a code of military laws, the Uniform Code of Military Justice UCMJ. The President, by Executive Order, has, in turn, established standards and procedures for prosecuting violators of the UCMJ and certain other laws. Military criminal courts are known as courts-martial. This report provides an overview of military courts-martial who can be tried, potential punishments, and the appeals process.

Author(s):
Velez Pollack, Estela I.
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Descriptive Note:
Congressional rept.
Supplementary Note:
CRS Report for Congress.
Pagination:
0007

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CRS-RS21850
Monitor Series:
CRS/DC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_5.2_Understand
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*MILITARY PERSONNEL, *ACTIVE DUTY, *MILITARY LAW, *PUNISHMENT, *CRIMES, MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES), CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, PRISONERS OF WAR, PRESIDENT(UNITED STATES), RETIREMENT(PERSONNEL), CONGRESS, MILITARY RESERVES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Sociology and Law, Military Forces and Organizations
Keyword(s):
*MILITARY COURTS MARTIAL, UCMJ(UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE), MCM(MANUAL FOR COURTS MARTIAL), CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, MILITARY CRIMINAL LAWS, MILITARY CRIMINAL TRIALS, LEGAL JURISDICTION, SUMMARY COURTS MARTIAL, SPECIAL COURTS MARTIAL, GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL, POST TRIAL REVIEW, APPELLATE REVIEW, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Report Date:
2004 May 26
Creation Date:
2007 Mar 21