MJ-015 · MILITARY JUSTICE
Sentencing
MJ-015: Sentencing follows findings but is governed by its own statutory limits, evidentiary rules and procedural framework. The applicable offense date and sentencing regime must be identified before comparing outcomes.
Controlling authorities
Working procedure
- Identify the offense dates and the sentencing rules applicable to those offenses and the forum.
- Separate maximum punishment, any statutory minimum, plea-agreement limitation and adjudged sentence.
- Preserve prosecution and defense sentencing exhibits, victim statements where authorized, personnel records, rebuttal and objections.
- Record the sentence exactly as announced and compare it with the Statement of Trial Results and entry of judgment.
- Track deferment, waiver, suspension, remission and later appellate modification as separate post-sentencing events.
Records to preserve
Sentencing exhibits; victim statements; personnel evidence; sentencing arguments; sentence announcement; Statement of Trial Results; entry of judgment; deferment or waiver requests; appellate sentence action.
Version control
Match the offense date, procedural date, service, forum and filing date to the governing UCMJ text, MCM/R.C.M./M.R.E. version, later presidential amendments, service rule and court rule. The 2024 MCM remains the current published edition, but later operative amendments must be checked before treating it as complete current procedure.
Registry sources: SRC-173; SRC-174; SRC-175 · Last verified: October 4, 2026 · Review cadence: 14 days
