South Carolina Code 25-1-2520. Nonjudicial disciplinary punishment
2. Subject to subsection 1 of this section, any commander may, in addition to or in lieu of admonition or reprimand, impose one or more of the following disciplinary punishments for minor offenses without the intervention of a court-martial:
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 25-1-2520
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(A) upon officers of his command:
(1) restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fifteen days;
(2) if imposed by the Governor, the Adjutant General, or an officer of a general rank in command:
(a) arrest in quarters for not more than fifteen days;
(b) forfeiture of pay of not more than seven days’ pay or a fine of not more than the equivalent of seven days’ pay;
(B) upon other military personnel of his command:
(1) forfeiture of pay of not more than two days’ pay or a fine of not more than the equivalent of two days’ pay;
(2) reduction to the next inferior 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;
(3) extra duties, including fatigue or other duties, for not more than fourteen days;
(4) restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen days;
(5) if imposed by an officer of the grade of major, or above:
(a) forfeiture of pay of not more than four days’ pay or a fine of not more than the equivalent of four days’ pay;
(b) 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 a pay grade above E-4 may not be reduced more than two pay grades;
(c) the punishment authorized under subitem (3) of item (B) of subsection 2 of this section;
(d) the punishment authorized under subitem (4) of item (B) of subsection 2 of this section.
No two or more of the punishments of arrest in quarters, extra duties, and restriction may be combined to run consecutively in the maximum amount possible for each. Whenever any of those punishments are combined to run consecutively, there must be an apportionment.
3. An officer in charge may impose upon enlisted members assigned to the unit of which he is in charge such of the punishments authorized under subitems (1) through (3) of item (B) of subsection 2 of this section as the Governor may specifically prescribe by regulation.
4. The officer who imposes the punishment authorized in subsection 2 of this section, or his successors in command, may at any time, suspend probationally a reduction in grade or a forfeiture imposed under subsection 2 of this section, whether or not executed. In addition, he may at any time remit or mitigate any part or amount of the unexecuted punishment and may set aside in whole or in part the punishment, whether executed or unexecuted, and restore all rights, privileges, and property affected. He may also mitigate reduction in grade to forfeiture of pay. When mitigating:
(a) arrest in quarters to restriction;
(b) extra duties to restriction;
the mitigated punishment may not be for a greater period than the punishment mitigated. When mitigating reduction in grade to forfeiture of pay, the amount of the forfeiture may not be greater than the amount that could have been imposed initially under this section by the officer who imposed the punishment mitigated.
5. A person punished under this section who considers his punishment unjust or disproportionate to the offense may, through proper channel, appeal to the next superior authority. The appeal must be promptly forwarded and decided, and in the meantime the punishment adjudged must be suspended. The superior authority may exercise the same powers with respect to the punishment imposed as may be exercised under subsection 4 of this section by the officer who imposed the punishment. The authority who is to act on the appeal shall refer the case to the state judge advocate or a judge advocate or legal officer within his command for consideration and advice. The decision of the superior authority is final.
6. The imposition and enforcement of disciplinary 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; but the fact that a disciplinary 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.
7. Whenever a punishment of forfeiture of pay is imposed under this section, the forfeiture may apply to pay accruing on or after the date that punishment is imposed and to any pay accrued before that date.
8. 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.