Overview

Purpose of Military LawThe Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)Rights of an Accused

Rights AdvisementTraining Requirements

Parts of a Punitive ArticleCommonly used Punitive Articles

MP1. Purpose of Military Law

Preamble of the MCM:

“The purpose of military law is to promote justice, to assist in maintaining good order

and discipline in the armed forces, to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the

military establishment, and thereby strengthen the national security of the

United States”

MP2. MCM Overview

Part 1: Preamble

Part 2: Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM)

Part 3: Military Rules of Evidence (MRE)

Part 4: The Punitive Articles

Part 5: Non-judicial Punishment (NJP) Procedures

MP3. Rights of an Accused

Article 31•Presumption of innocence•Burden of proof•Reasonable Doubt• Self-Incrimination•Rights Advisement

MP3. Rights of an Accused

Article 27, Equal QualificationsArticle 32• Pretrial Investigation• General Courts-Martial

Article 38, Right to an attorneyArticle 137, UCMJ training requirements• Initial entry• After completion of 6 months of active duty• Upon reenlistment

MP4. Parts of the Punitive Article

Articles 77 – 134 (Punitive Articles)• Part 1: Text• Part 2: Elements• Part 3: Explanation• Part 4: Lesser Included Offenses• Part 5: Maximum Permissible

Punishments• Part 6: Sample Specifications

47. Article 122 – Robbery

A. Text of statute Any person subject to this chapter who with intent to steal takes anything of value from the person or in the presence of another, against his will, by means of force or violence or fear of immediate or future injury to his person or property or to the person or property of a relative or member of his family or of anyone in his company at the time of the robbery, is guilty of robbery and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

B. Elements (1) That the accused wrongfully took certain property from the person or from the possession and in the presence of a person named or described; (2) That the taking was against the will of that person; (3) The taking was by means of force, violence, or force and violence, or putting the person in fear of immediate or future injury to that person, a relative, a member of the person’s family, anyone accompanying the person at the time of the robbery, the person’s property, or the property of a relative, family member, or anyone accompanying the person at the time of the robbery; (4) That the property belonged to a person named or described; (5) That the property was of a certain or of some value; and (6) That the taking of the property of the accused was with the intent permanently to deprive the person robbed of the use and benefit of the property. (7) That the means of force or violence or of putting the person in fear was a firearm.

C. Explanation (1) Taking in the presence of the victim. It is not necessary that the property taken be located within any certain distance of the victim. (2) Force or violence. For a robbery to be committed by force or violence, there must be actual force or violence to the person, preceding or accompanying the taking against the person’s will, and it is immaterial that there is no fear engendered in the victim. (3) Fear. For robbery to be committed by putting the victim in fear, there need be no actual force or violence, but there must be a demonstration of force or menace by which the victim is place in such fear that the victim is warranted in making no resistance.

D. Lesser included offences (1) Article 121 – larceny (2) Article 121 – wrongful appropriation (3) Article 128 – assault; assault consummated by a battery (4) Article 128 – assault with a dangerous weapon (5) Article 134 – assault with intent to rob (6) Article 80 – attempts

E. Maximum punishment (1) When committed with a firearm. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for 10 years. (2) Other cases. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.

F. Sample specification In that (personal jurisdiction data) did (at/on board – location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or (violence) (force and violence) (and) (putting him/her in fear) (with firarm) steal from the (person) (presence) of, against his/her will, (a watch) ( ) of value of (about) $ the property of

47. Article 122 – Robbery

A. Text of statuteAny person subject to this chapter who with

intent to steal takes anything of value from the person or in the presence of another, against his will, by means of force or violence or fear of immediate or future injury to his person or property or to the person or property of a relative or member of his family or of anyone in his company at the time of the robbery, is guilty of robbery and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

47. Article 122 – Robbery

B. Elements

(1) That the accused wrongfully took certain property from the person or from the possession and in the presence of a person named or described; (2) That the taking was against the will of that person; (3) The taking was by means of force, violence, or force and violence, or putting the person in fear of immediate or future injury to that person, a relative, a member of the person’s family, anyone accompanying the person at the time of the robbery, the person’s property, or the property of a relative, family member, or anyone accompanying the person at the time of the robbery; (4) That the property belonged to a person named or described; (5) That the property was of a certain or of some value; and (6) That the taking of the property of the accused was with the intent permanently to deprive the person robbed of the use and benefit of the property. [NOTE: If robbery was committed with a firearm, add the following.] (7) That the means of force or violence or of putting the person in fear was a firearm.

47. Article 122 – Robbery

C. Explanation

(1) Taking in the presence of the victim. It is not necessary that the property taken be located within any certain distance of the victim. (2) Force or violence. For a robbery to be committed by force or violence, there must be actual force or violence to the person, preceding or accompanying the taking against the person’s will, and it is immaterial that there is no fear engendered in the victim. (3) Fear. For robbery to be committed by putting the victim in fear, there need be no actual force or violence, but there must be a demonstration of force or menace by which the victim is place in such fear that the victim is warranted in making no resistance.

47. Article 122 – Robbery

D. Lesser included offences (1) Article 121 – larceny (2) Article 121 – wrongful appropriation (3) Article 128 – assault; assault consummated by a battery (4) Article 128 – assault with a dangerous weapon (5) Article 134 – assault with intent to rob (6) Article 80 – attempts

47. Article 122 – Robbery

E. Maximum punishment (1) When committed with a firearm. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for 15 years. (2) Other cases. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.

47. Article 122 – Robbery

F. Sample specification

In that (personal jurisdiction data) did (at/on board – location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or (violence) (force and violence) (and) (putting him/her in fear) (with firearm) steal from the (person) (presence) of, against his/her will, (a watch) ( ) of value of (about) $ the property of

MP5 Common Punitive Article Article 85, Desertion Article 86, Absence without leave Article 91, Insubordinate Conduct toward warrant officer,

noncommissioned officer, or petty officer Article 92, Failure to obey order or regulation Article 107, False Official Statement Article 108, Military property of the United States –sale, loss, damage,

destruction or wrongful disposition Article 111, Drunken or reckless operation of vehicle, aircraft, or vessel Article 112, Drunk on Duty Article 112a, Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances Article 117, Provoking Speeches and gestures Article 123a, Making, drawing, or uttering check without sufficient funds Article 128, Assault Article 134, General Article

Summary

Purpose of Military LawThe Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)Rights of an Accused

Rights AdvisementTraining Requirements

Parts of a Punitive ArticleCommonly used Punitive Articles