Military Justice: Quality Data Needed to Improve Oversight of Navy and Marine Corps Disciplinary Measures

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The Navy and the Marine Corps may impose punishments—such as extra duties or loss of pay—against service members for minor offenses. Commanding officers at sea may discipline service members via the "vessel exception" that prohibits service members from refusing punishment by demanding a trial.

The Navy and the Marine Corps report data on these punishments. But data on use of the "vessel exception" may be inaccurate and incomplete because these services don't have an automated process to record this data. The Navy and the Marine Corps recognize the need for automated systems but have not implemented them.