What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 134?
Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is a federal law adopted by the United States Congress in 1950. It serves as the governing law for members of the military who are subject to military discipline, both in the United States and abroad. Article 134 generally governs any sort of “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman” or any other service-related offenses that may be committed by members of the military. In California, any military personnel accused of a crime under Article 134 may have their case heard before a court martial. A court martial is a trial conducted by either a judge, a jury or a panel of other military officers. The court martial has the power to decide whether the accused is guilty or not and can hand out punishments such as jail time or discharge from the military. Additionally, Article 134 states that any punishment must comply with the sentencing laws and regulations of the state in which the offense occurred. In addition to criminal penalties outlined in Article 134, an accused person will also be subject to administrative punishments. These punishments can range from a disciplinary letter of reprimand to the loss of multiple benefits and privileges of military service. Overall, Article 134 of the UCMJ serves as the governing law for military personnel in the United States, including California. It outlines criminal and administrative punishments for members of the military who commit certain offenses and provides a set of procedural guidelines for court martial proceedings.
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