Subchapter II · Apprehension and Restraint

Article 10. Restraint of persons charged

2024 Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Recent revisions Summary of changes Cited by (4)

(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person subject to this chapter who is charged with an offense under this chapter may be ordered into arrest or confinement as the circumstances require.
(2) When a person subject to this chapter is charged only with an offense that is normally tried by summary court-martial, the person ordinarily shall not be ordered into confinement.
(b) NOTIFICATION TO ACCUSED AND RELATED PROCEDURES.—
(1) When a person subject to this chapter is ordered into arrest or confinement before trial, immediate steps shall be taken—
(A) to inform the person of the specific offense of which the person is accused; and
(B) to try the person or to dismiss the charges and release the person.
(2) To facilitate compliance with paragraph (1), the President shall prescribe regulations setting forth procedures relating to referral for trial, including procedures for prompt forwarding of the charges and specifications and, if applicable, the preliminary hearing report submitted under section 832 of this title (article 32).

Case notes are this site's own editorial annotations — decisions construing Article 10 and its provisions. They are not part of the Manual's text.

Article 10 — generally

Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (SCOTUS 1972)
In determining reasonable diligence for the purposes of Article 10, UCMJ, courts must conduct a four-factor analysis articulated in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, (1972), which includes:

(1) Length of the delay — The total period of government-accountable delay from confinement to trial. A delay of sufficient length triggers a full analysis of the remaining factors.

(2) Reasons for the delay — Whether the government had legitimate justifications, such as case complexity, worldwide military logistics, operational necessities, or the need to gather scientific evidence.

(3) Whether the accused demanded a speedy trial — Whether and when the accused asserted the right, and how the government responded.

(4) Prejudice to the accused — Assessed in light of three recognized interests: (a) preventing oppressive pretrial incarceration; (b) minimizing anxiety and concern of the accused; and (c) limiting the possibility that the defense will be impaired.

None of these factors alone is a necessary or sufficient condition for finding a violation U.S. v. Cooley, 75 M.J. 247 (C.A.A.F. 2016). Courts look at the proceeding as a whole, remaining “mindful that we are looking at the proceeding as a whole and not mere speed.” U.S. v. Mizgala, 61 M.J. 122 (C.A.A.F. 2005). Importantly, the CAAF held in U.S. v. Cooley, 75 M.J. 247 (C.A.A.F. 2016), that because Article 10 is triggered only by pretrial confinement, the prejudice prong requires something more than the mere fact of confinement itself.
Cross-referencesCited by 4Cites 1Elsewhere 1
Cited by

Provisions elsewhere in the Manual whose text cites Article 10. Each link opens the citing provision.

Rules for Courts-Martial
Discussion under R.C.M. 305(d)(3) — Pretrial confinement (10(a)(2))
…is normally tried by summary court-martial, the person ordinarily shall not be ordered in confinement.” Article 10(a)(2). Confinement should be distinguished from custody. Custody is restraint which is imposed by apprehension and…
Discussion under R.C.M. 401(b) — Forwarding and disposition of charges in general
…offenses, see R.C.M. 706, 909, and 916(k). As to the rules concerning speedy trial, see R.C.M. 707. See also Articles 10, 30, and 131f. Before determining an appropriate disposition, a commander who receives charges should ensure that: (1) a…
Discussion under R.C.M. 405(m)(1) — Preliminary hearing
…and the report of preliminary hearing should be forwarded to the court-martial convening authority. See Article 10.
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Art. 137(a)(3) — Articles to be explained
…to sections 802, 803, 807– 815, 825, 827, 831, 837, 838, 855, 877–934, and 937–939 of this title (articles 2, 3, 7–15, 25, 27, 31, 37, 38, 55, 77–134, and 137–139).
Article 10 cites

Provisions named in the text of Article 10. Where the cited provision is on this site, the link opens it.