Military Offenses

Military Offenses That Are Alleged In Courts-Martial And Other Military Disciplinary And Adverse Actions Come From The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The Punitive Articles Of The UCMJ – Which Describe Military Offenses – Can Be Found In Part IV of the Manual For Courts-Martial (MCM) [Articles 77-134]

We are criminal defense lawyers who only represent military members and only handle military cases. That includes military investigations, military disciplinary actions, military discharge/separation, and military court-martial trials. These military adverse actions allege military offenses found in the UCMJ and MCM. Links to some of the military offenses we handle are available below and on the right margin.

Since 1995, attorney Richard V. Stevens has defended against a wide variety of military offenses, and has had to keep current with the constant changes in military law. Because of the political meddling in the military justice system, the UCMJ and associated military justice procedural rules (MCM, RCM, MRE, service specific regulations) are constantly changing, and it is vital that attorneys keep updated on the latest military law changes. Since 2013, dramatic changes have taken place regarding military criminal investigations, Article 32 hearings, clemency, complainant’s rights, military accused’s rights, etc. The Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) contains the UCMJ and many important rules that apply not only to courts-martial, but to other military disciplinary actions to some extent.

Among other sections, the MCM contains:

(Part II): The Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM). These are the procedural rules for conducting a court-martial.

(Part III): The Military Rules of Evidence (MRE). These are the rules regarding admissibility of evidence and testimony at trial.

(Part IV): The Punitive Articles. These are the provisions of the UCMJ that describe offenses under the Code. The punitive articles are Articles 77-134.

(Part V): NonJudicial Punishment Procedure. This is the guide for imposing punishment under Article 15 UCMJ. Depending on the service branch, this disciplinary action is referred to as “Article 15” or “NJP” or “Captain’s Mast” or “Office Hours.” In addition to this provision of the MCM, the service branches have their own regulations further describing their NonJudicial Punishment procedures.

The following are just some of the military offenses we defend military members against:

• Murder, Manslaughter, Homicide [UCMJ Articles 118, 119, 119a, 134]
• “War Crimes”
• National Security Cases [MRE 505]
• Rape and Sexual Assault [UCMJ Article 120]
• Consensual Sex Offenses (Fraternization, Adultery) [UCMJ Article 134]
• Computer Crimes (Internet Pornography) [UCMJ Articles 92, 134]
• Drug Offenses [UCMJ Article 112a]
• Larceny, Wrongful Appropriation, Fraud (Travel Vouchers) [UCMJ Articles 121-123a]

Please note that we are not legal assistance lawyers and we do not represent military members in civilian courts and cases, nor do we handle, for example, family law issues or property law issues. We only represent military members facing military cases. Our civilian court-martial defense lawyers provide free initial case consultations and advice based on their years of military law and military justice experience.