NCJ Number
60642
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE DISCIPLINARY RATES OF ENLISTED MEN AND THE ATTITUDES OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL TOWARDS THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IT WAS BASED ON A 1973 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) PERSONNEL SURVEY ADMINISTERED TO A STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLE OF SERVICEMEN WITHIN THE FOUR MILITARY SERVICES; IT CONSISTED OF SAMPLE ESTIMATES BASED ON THE RESPONSES OF OVER 30,000 MILITARY PERSONNEL WEIGHTED TO REPRESENT THE TOTAL MILITARY POPULATION. THE SURVEY GATHERED DATA ON THE INCIDENCE OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, THE OPINIONS OF SERVICEMEN ABOUT THESE ACTIONS, AND OTHER RELATED QUESTIONS. SURVEY RESPONDENTS WERE DIVIDED AMONG RECIPIENTS WHO RECEIVED NONPUNITIVE AND NONJUDICIAL OR CORRECTIVE PUNISHMENT, AND THOSE WHO RECEIVED COURT-MARTIAL, THE MOST SERIOUS DISCIPLINARY ACTION. SERVICEMEN MOST LIKELY TO HAVE DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS WERE YOUNG FIRST-TERMERS WITH A LOW RANKING. THEY WERE USUALLY SINGLE, HAD LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND SERVED IN RELATIVELY LOW-SKILLED MILITARY OCCUPATIONS. OFFICERS WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY THAN ENLISTED MEN TO JUDGE MILITARY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AS 'REASONABLE AND FAIR.' SINCE OTHER EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT SERVICEMEN HAVE A FAIR DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM, MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED ON HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE DIFFERENT RATES OF DISCIPLINE AMONG THE SERVICES. TWO APPENDIXES AND 17 TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)