NCJ Number
175907
Date Published
1998
Length
379 pages
Annotation
Designed as an introduction to military naval law intended for use by midshipmen and others interested in the law of the sea services, this book provides discussion, resources, and materials designed to assist in the study and comprehension of naval law in the classroom setting.
Abstract
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the history of military justice by tracing the development of the U.S. Army and Navy legal systems. Chapter 2 introduces some of the principles of criminal law that are essential to the study of military justice; the standards discussed in this chapter provide the foundation for the student's understanding of cases and materials throughout the book. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the forums and procedures used to dispose of military offenses. These chapters explore the court-martial and administrative forums as well as the rules and concepts relevant to disposition of crimes in the armed forces. Focusing on what are termed "uniquely military" crimes, Chapter 5 introduces the elements and basic tenets of these offenses and provides cases that question and apply the principles involved. The rapidly evolving law of government ethics is considered in Chapter 6, which traces the development of ethics rules and examines the reasons for the limits placed on government employees, including members of the armed forces. Chapters 7 and 8 examine the relationship between the armed services and the Constitution, with attention to the issues of search and seizure and the privilege against self-incrimination. Chapter 9 canvasses the many types of criminal and administrative investigations conducted in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The final three chapters cover the topic of international law, including war crimes law and law pertinent to armed conflict. The eight appendixes augment and amplify the reader's understanding of the materials covered in the main body of the text.