What are the different types of court-martials?

A court-martial is a military legal proceeding used to address offenses of military personnel. In California, court-martials are the primary judicial mechanism used to uphold order in the armed forces. There are three primary types of court-martials used in California: summary court-martial, special court-martial, and general court-martial. Summary court-martial is the least serious type of court-martial. A summary court-martial is conducted by a single commissioned officer and is used to address minor infractions. It is reserved for active duty personnel who may be facing a punishment of 30 days or less. Special court-martial is the intermediate level of court-martial. It is presided over by at least three officers and is used for addressing offenses that may result in the accused facing up to one year of confinement. Special courts-martials are also used to address non-capital offenses and punishments. The general court-martial is the most serious type of court-martial used in California. It is presided over by at least five officers and is used to address serious criminal offenses, including capital offenses. General court-martials have the authority to impose sentences that may include life in prison or even the death penalty. In addition to the primary types of court-martials, there are alternative procedures available to the court-martial process. These procedures may include non-judicial punishment, administrative separation, and clemency. Each of these alternative procedures is used to address infractions and maintain order in the armed forces in California.

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