Missouri § 40.043 - Disciplinary punishment for minor offenses, no court-martial required — appeal procedure — right of accused to trial by court-martial.

§ 40.043. Disciplinary punishment for minor offenses, no court-martial required — appeal procedure — right of accused to trial by court-martial.

1.  Under such regulations as the governor may prescribe, any commanding officer may, in addition to or in lieu of admonition or reprimand, impose one of the following disciplinary punishments for minor offenses without the intervention of a court-martial:

(1)  Upon an officer of his command:

(a)  Withholding of privileges for not more than two consecutive weeks;

(b)  Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than two consecutive weeks; or

(c)  If imposed by the governor, the adjutant general, or the commanding officer of a division, wing, brigade, battalion, group, or similar organization, a fine or forfeiture of pay and allowances of not more than one hundred fifty dollars;

(2)  Upon other military personnel of his command:

(a)  Withholding of privileges for not more than two consecutive weeks;

(b)  Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than two consecutive weeks;

(c)  Extra duties for not more than fourteen days, which need not be consecutive, and for not more than two hours per day, holidays included;

(d)  Reduction to next inferior grade if the grade from which demoted was established by the command or an equivalent or lower command; or

(e)  If imposed by an officer exercising special court-martial jurisdiction over the offender, a fine or forfeiture of pay and allowances of not more than fifty dollars.

2.  The governor may, by regulation, place limitations on the powers granted by this section with respect to the kind and amount of punishment authorized and the categories of commanding officers authorized to exercise those powers.

3.  An officer in charge may, for minor offenses, impose on enlisted members assigned to the unit or element of which the officer is in charge, such of the punishments authorized to be imposed by commanding officers as the governor may by regulation specifically prescribe, as provided in subsections 1 and 2 of this section.

4.  Except where punishment has been imposed by the governor, a person punished under this section who considers his punishment unjust or disproportionate to the offense may, through the proper channel, appeal to the next superior authority.  The appeal shall be promptly forwarded and decided, but the person punished may in the meantime be required to undergo the punishment adjudged.  The officer who imposes the punishment, his successor in command, and superior authority may suspend, set aside, or remit any part or amount of the punishment and restore all rights, privileges and property affected.

5.  The imposition and enforcement of disciplinary punishment under this section for any act or omission is not a bar to trial by court-martial for a serious crime or offense growing out of the same act or omission, and not properly punishable under this section; but the fact that a disciplinary punishment has been enforced may be shown by the accused upon trial, and when so shown shall be considered in determining the measure of punishment to be adjudged in the event of a finding of guilty.

6.  Whenever a punishment of forfeiture of pay and allowances is imposed under this section, the forfeiture may apply to pay or allowances accruing on or after the date that punishment is imposed and to any pay and allowances accrued before that date.

7.  Any punishment authorized by this section which is measured in terms of days shall, when served in a status other than annual field training, be construed to mean succeeding active service days.

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(L. 1984 H.B. 1035 § 15, A.L. 1991 S.B. 358)

Effective 6-12-91

---- end of effective  12 Jun 1991 ----

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