What is the maximum punishment for an Article 120 offense?
Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the military law that outlines the court-martial punishments for sexual-related offenses. In Virginia, Article 120 offenses come with the maximum punishment of confinement for life without parole. An individual found guilty may also face additional penalties such as dishonorable discharge, total forfeiture of pay and allowances, and reduction to the lowest enlisted grade. However, depending on the severity of the offense and any extenuating circumstances of the case, the court-martial may also impose a lesser penalty, such as a bad conduct discharge, a sentence for a particular period of confinement, a forfeiture of pay, or correctional custody. Furthermore, if the accused successfully completes a period of rehabilitative treatment and meets other requirements, such as abstaining from alcohol consumption, the court-martial may place them on probation for an indefinite period.
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