Military Criminal Justice System and Veterans Rights
The criminal justice system for military service members has always been separate from the civilian courts. The levels of trial and appeal in the military justice system include a court-martial, a convening authority review, an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals (for Army, Navy-Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard), and the United States Court of Appeal for the Armed Forces.
While veterans are usually tried in regular civilian courts, they are provided with some special protections. Also, in many states, veterans are now getting their own state courts for crimes related to substance abuse. These courts are called veterans treatment courts.
A diagnosis of PTSD can help veterans with lighter sentences, grounds for appeal, treatment in jail, and early parole.
Service members coming home from military duty can often face challenges adjusting to civilian life, including work.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ, dictates the procedure and punishment for offenses committed by servicemembers on active duty.
The most frequent type of military discipline available under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is an Article 15.
Here's what to expect if you are called to a military summary, special or general court-martial trial.
The military has built-in protections for convicted service members, including automatic review of special and general court-martial convictions.
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