Non-Judicial Punishment / Article 15

Military Defense Attorney Serving Servicemembers WorldWide

In some cases, non-judicial punishment may be applied for minor violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  Non-judicial punishment, or NJP, refers to punishment that your Command is authorized to administer under Article 15 of the UCMJ.  In the Navy and Marines, this is often referred to as a "Captain's Mast" and in the Air Force it may be referred to as "Office Hours."  Whether you are in the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or are under any type of military service, you have rights under Article 15 and any type of non-judicial punishment and a military defense attorney can assist you in these matters.

When a servicemember is offered an Article 15 or NJP, he or she has the right to turn it down and demand a court-martial.  This basic right, along with the right to consult a military defense lawyer, may make all the difference in the outcome of your case.  If you choose to accept an Article 15, you essentially place the ruling of your case in the hands of your commander.  Your commander will be the judge and jury for your case and you will lose the right to a court-martial trial.  However, you will still have the right to present your side to your commander.  A military attorney can assist you in preparing your defense, including building evidence and gathering witness testimony that supports your version of events.

At The Bilecki Law Group, LLLC we represent military servicemen and servicewomen throughout Hawaii, Okinawa, Mainland Japan, Korea and the rest of the world from our offices in Honolulu.  If you are facing NJP and want to get a fair shake, contact a military lawyer at our law firm to discuss all of your options, not just a guilty plea.

To learn more about your rights in regard to non-judicial punishment and how an attorney can help with your Article 15, contact a military lawyer at our offices today.