Opinion ID: 615944
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: 6 Whether NJP Has an Alternative Purpose

Text: Statutes authorizing punishments that have purposes other than furthering the traditional criminal justice objectives of deterrence and retribution are less likely to be criminal in nature. See Hudson, 522 U.S. at 105, 118 S.Ct. 488; Trogden, 476 F.Supp.2d at 570-71. As noted, [n]onjudicial punishment provides commanders with an essential and prompt means of maintaining good order and discipline and also promotes positive behavior changes in servicemembers without the stigma of a court-martial conviction. MCM, pt. V, ¶ 1c. Thus, a primary purpose of NJP is to maintain military order, a purpose distinct from those underlying traditional criminal punishment. Indeed, military discipline is not achieved exclusively or even primarily through use or threat of the military criminal law process, the court-martial. Gammons, 51 M.J. at 178. Commanders use a combination of tools to maintain discipline, including leadership by example, training, corrective measures, administrative actions authorized by applicable regulations, and NJP.... Id. This factor weighs against considering NJP to be criminal in nature.