Opinion ID: 615944
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: 2 Whether NJP Has Historically Been Regarded As Punishment

Text: If a sanction has historically been regarded as punishment, it is more likely that the sanction is criminal, rather than civil, in nature. See Hudson, 522 U.S. at 104, 118 S.Ct. 488; Trogden, 476 F.Supp.2d at 570. NJP has historically been regarded as punishment. NJP originates from proceedings where Navy commanders could correct those who are guilty of rule infractions using a Captain's Mast. S.Rep. No. 87-1911, at 2 (1962), 1962 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 2381. Harsh punishment was available under those Captain's Mast proceedings, including the possibility of lashing, flogging, being shot out of a cannon, and keelhauling. Modern-day NJP also has been historically regarded as punishment. As noted, NJP includes the possibility of 30 days confinement at hard labor. See 10 U.S.C. § 815(b). And although the Captain's Mast punishments were certainly more severe than those administered under modern-day NJP, the fact remains that NJPs are still punishments. See Middendorf, 425 U.S. at 35-37, 96 S.Ct. 1281. This factor favors considering NJP to be criminal in nature.