Star Fleet Justice
Non-judicial Punishment
Disciplinary actions which are relatively minor and can be adjudicated by a service member’s commanding officer are refereed to as non-judicial punishment (NJP). The punishments are usually minor and may include:
- Admonition or reprimand;
- Extra duty for up to 45 days;
- Restriction of privileges up to 60 days;
- Forfeiture of pay and allowances for up to one months;
- Reduction in rank:
- Enlisted service members in the Apprentice (Star Fleet) or Riflemen (Star Fleet Marines) levels can be reduced by up to two grades.
- Enlisted personnel grades in the Journeyman (Star Fleet) and Team Leadership (Star Fleet Marines) levels can only be reduced one rank.
- Star Fleet enlisted at the Tradesmen level and Marines at Unit Leadership level and commissioned officers cannot be reduced in rank by NJP.
A record of the NJP will be placed in the service member’s personnel file. The service member reserves the right to waive NJP and instead have their case heard by a Summary Court-Martial.
Summary Courts-Martial
The least serious of the three types of courts-martial, these proceedings only handle minor incidents. Summary courts martial are headed by any commissioned officer, although a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer is preferred, when available. In naval tradition, this is called a Captain’s Mast (if conducted by the commanding officer of a vessel) or an Admiral’s Mast (if conducted by a flag officer). Punishments available for Summary Courts-Martial include:
- Reduction in Rank:
- Enlisted service members in the Apprentice (Star Fleet) or Riflemen (Star Fleet Marines) levels can be reduced any amount, down to Fleet/Marine Recruit.
- Enlisted personnel above the Apprentice/Riflemen levels can only be reduced one rank by Summary Court-Martial.
- Commissioned officers can not be reduced in rank through Summary Courts-Martial;
- Confinement of up to 30 days;
- Restriction of privileges up to 60 days;
- Forfeiture of pay and allowances for up to two months.
Special Courts-Martial
These courts-martial are similar to civilian misdemeanor courts and can impose significantly greater penalties upon the service member if convicted. The Special Court-Martial includes at least three officers and a military trial judge. Enlisted members may request at least one of the panel officers be replaced by an enlisted member. Punishments available for Special Courts-Martial include:
- Reduction in rank:
- Enlisted service members in the Apprentice (Star Fleet) or Riflemen (Star Fleet Marines) levels can be reduced any amount, down to Fleet/Marine Recruit.
- Other enlisted personnel can be reduced up to two grades, w
- Officers can be reduced one grade by Special Court-Martial;
- Confinement and rehabilitative custody of up to one year;
- Restriction of privileges up to 120 days;
- Forfeiture of pay and allowances for up to six months.
General Courts-Martial
The most serious tier of military courts, these proceedings can only be convened by a Star Fleet flag officer. These courts serve as trials for crimes which, in civilian terms, would be felonies or capital crimes. The General Court-Martial includes at least three officers and a military trial judge. Before any case goes to General Court-Martial, a pretrial investigation must be conducted, unless waived by the accused. Punishments available for General Courts-Martial include:
- Reduction in rank for any service member, by any degree, including down to lowest enlisted grade;
- Forfeiture of all pay and allowances;
- Dishonorable discharge;
- Rehabilitative custody for any period, up to life.