What is the difference between a summary court-martial and a special court-martial?

In Washington, military law is separate from civilian law and is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. There are two types of courts-martial that exist in the state: Summary Court-Martial and Special Court-Martial. A Summary Court-Martial (SCM) is a military court that consists of one commissioned officer and is used to determine the innocence or guilt of someone accused of a minor military offense. It cannot impose a sentence of confinement or dishonorable discharge, and the maximum sentence is limited to 1 month of confinement and forfeiture of 2/3 of pay for one month. A Special Court-Martial (SPCM) is a military court that consists of a military judge and at least three court members. It is used to determine the innocence or guilt of someone accused of a serious military offense. It can impose a sentence of up to 12 months of confinement, dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, and forfeiture of pay and allowances, as well as fines and other punishments. The main difference between a Summary Court-Martial and a Special Court-Martial is the severity of the offense that is being tried. Summary Court-Martial is used for minor offenses, while Special Court-Martial is used for more serious offenses. The punishment for a Special Court-Martial conviction is also more severe than that of a Summary Court-Martial.

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What is the difference between a summary court-martial and a special court-martial?

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