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PUNITIVE ARTICLES

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Article 97 – Unlawful detention

Source: Internal (UCMJ) or external at constitution.org

The UCMJ is the derived source of this information.  The information below is for illustration and educational purposes only and may not reflect the most recent changes.  Please refer to your Legal Office or Area Defense Counsel for legal advice.

Text.

“Any person subject to this chapter who, except as provided by law, apprehends, arrests, or confines any person shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

b. Elements.

(1) That the accused apprehended, arrested, or confined a certain person; and

(2) That the accused unlawfully exercised the accused’s authority to do so.

Explanation.

(1) Scope. This article prohibits improper acts by those empowered by the code to arrest, apprehend, or confine. See Articles 7 and 9; R.C.M. 302, 304, 305, and 1101 in the Manual Of Courts Martials (linked to a 3.5M PDF), and paragraphs 2 and 5b, Part V. It does not apply to private acts of false imprisonment or unlawful restraint of another’s freedom of movement by one not acting under such a delegation of authority under the code.

(2) No force required. The apprehension, arrest, or confinement must be against the will of the person restrained, but force is not required.

(3) Defense. A reasonable belief held by the person imposing restraint that it is lawful is a defense.







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Page added on: 11 Jun 2007
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Revised: 10/21/09.