Section 5924.15 | Nonjudicial punishment.
(A) Under such regulations as the adjutant general may prescribe, limitations may be placed on the powers granted by this section with respect to the kind and amount of punishment authorized, the categories of commanding officers and warrant officers exercising command authorized to exercise those powers, the applicability of this section to an accused who demands trial by court-martial, and the kinds of courts-martial to which the case may be referred upon such a demand. However, except in the case of a member attached to, or embarked in a vessel, punishment may not be imposed upon a member of the organized militia if the member has, before the imposition of the punishment, demanded trial by court-martial in lieu of the punishment. Under similar regulations, rules may be prescribed with respect to the suspension of punishments authorized under this section. If authorized by regulations prescribed under this section, the governor or a general officer or officer of flag rank in command may delegate the powers of the governor or general officer under this section to a principal assistant. In all proceedings, the accused shall be allowed a reasonable period of time, normally not exceeding forty-eight hours, to reply to the notification of intent to impose punishment under this section.
(B) Subject to division (A) of this section, any commanding officer may, in addition to or in lieu of admonition or reprimand, impose one or more of the following punishments for minor offenses without the intervention of a court-martial:
(1) Upon officers of the commanding officer's command, any of the following:
(a) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than thirty days;
(b) If imposed by the governor, the adjutant general, an officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction, a general officer, or a flag officer, any of the following:
(i) Arrest in quarters for not more than thirty days;
(ii) Forfeiture of not more than one-half of one month's pay per month for two months or a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars;
(iii) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than sixty days.
(2) Upon other military personnel of the commanding officer's command, any of the following:
(a) Correctional custody for not more than seven days;
(b) Forfeiture of not more than seven days' pay or a fine of not more than one-quarter of one month's actual pay;
(c) Reduction to the next inferior pay grade, if the grade from which the service member demoted is within the promotion authority of the officer imposing the reduction or any officer subordinate to the one who imposes the reduction;
(d) Extra duties, including fatigue or other duties, for not more than fourteen consecutive days or for a total of thirty nonconsecutive days;
(e) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen days;
(f) If imposed by an officer of the grade of major or above, any of the following:
(i) The punishment authorized under division (B)(2)(a) of this section;
(ii) Correctional custody for not more than thirty days;
(iii) Forfeiture of not more than one-half of one month's pay per month for two months or a fine of not more than one-half of one month's actual pay for two months;
(iv) Reduction to the lowest or any intermediate pay grade, if the grade from which demoted is within the promotion authority of the officer imposing the reduction or any officer subordinate to the one who imposes the reduction, but an enlisted member in pay grade above E-4 may not be reduced more than one pay grade;
(v) Extra duties, including fatigue or other duties, for not more than forty-five days, which need not be consecutive, and for not more than two hours per day;
(vi) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than sixty days, which need not be consecutive.
(C) No two or more of the punishments of arrest in quarters, correctional custody, extra duties, and restriction may be combined to run consecutively in the maximum amount imposable for each. If any of those punishments are combined to run consecutively, there must be apportionment. For the purposes of this section, "correctional custody" means the physical restraint of a person during duty or nonduty hours and may include extra duties, fatigue duties, or hard labor.
(D) An officer in charge may impose upon enlisted members assigned to the unit of which the officer is in charge any of the punishments authorized under divisions (A)(2)(a) to (f) of this section that the governor or adjutant general may specifically prescribe by regulation.
(E) The officer who imposes the punishment authorized in division (B) of this section, or the officer's successor in command, may, at any time, suspend probationally any part or amount of the unexecuted punishment imposed and may suspend probationally a reduction in grade or a forfeiture or fine imposed under division (B) of this section, whether or not executed. In addition, the officer who imposed the punishment may, at any time, remit or mitigate any part or amount of the unexecuted punishment imposed and may set aside in whole or in part the punishment, whether executed or unexecuted, and restore all rights, privileges, and property affected. The officer who imposed the punishment may also mitigate reduction in grade to forfeiture of pay or a fine. When mitigating arrest in quarters to restriction or extra duties to restriction, the mitigated punishment shall not be for a greater period than the punishment mitigated. When mitigating reduction in grade to fine or forfeiture of pay, the amount of the fine or forfeiture shall not be greater than the amount that could have been imposed initially under this section by the officer who imposed the punishment mitigated.
(F) A person punished under this section who considers the punishment unjust or disproportionate to the offense may, through the proper channel, appeal to the next superior authority within seven calendar days. The appeal shall be promptly forwarded and decided, but the person punished may in the meantime be required to undergo the punishment adjudged. The superior authority may exercise the same powers with respect to the punishment imposed as may be exercised under division (E) of this section by the officer who imposed the punishment. Before acting on an appeal from a punishment of any of the following, the authority who is to act on the appeal shall refer the case to a judge advocate or legal officer of the Ohio organized militia for consideration and advice and may also refer the case upon appeal from any punishment imposed under division (B) of this section:
(1) Arrest in quarters for more than seven days;
(2) Correctional custody for more than seven days;
(3) Fine or forfeiture of more than seven days' pay;
(4) Reduction of one or more pay grades from the fourth or a higher pay grade;
(5) Extra duties for more than fourteen days.
(G) The imposition and enforcement of 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. The fact that a 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.
(H) The adjutant general may, by regulation, prescribe the form of records to be kept of proceedings under this section and may also prescribe that certain categories of those proceedings shall be in writing.
(I) A commanding officer may delegate authority to make a reduction in pay grade under division (B)(2)(c) of this section to the commanding officer's executive officer, deputy commander, vice commander, or principal assistant.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 28, 2012 – House Bill 490 - 129th General Assembly [ View September 28, 2012 Version ]