When a military member is accused of a very serious offense, they may face a court martial. This is a legal proceeding that can have severe ramifications. The person could spend time behind bars and lose their career. A court-martial could be used if someone is accused of desertion, for instance, or treason against the United States.
But another type of punishment is known as a non-judicial punishment, or NJP. This is used for relatively minor offenses when a court-martial may not be necessary. This could include issues like providing false information, destroying government property, being late for duty, committing petty theft, sleeping on watch and the like.
Which process should be used?
If you’re facing accusations that you did not perform your duties properly, should you be facing a court martial or an NJP? It’s an important question to ask because the sentences for each can be so different.
You also may find yourself in a position where it is unclear exactly how you should be charged. For instance, you could be given an NJP for disobeying standing orders. But depending on the nature of those orders, you could also be court-martialed.
This can sometimes lead to a situation where both sides disagree about how serious the allegations are and what process should actually be used while seeking justice. If you’re facing a court martial and you believe it should be an NJP – or that you shouldn’t be punished at all – you certainly need to know about all the legal options at your disposal. You must understand what steps you can take to protect your future, your freedom and your career as a member of the United States military.