DoD policy requires that DNA samples be taken from service members, civilians, and contractors who are suspected of committing certain criminal offenses. These samples are forwarded to the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) which serves as the DoD’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) participating laboratory. Individuals from whom samples are taken but, Read More

The Last Line of Defense for Service Members Convicted of a Military Crime The presidential pardon is the last line of defense for service members convicted at general or special court-martial. After all legal appeals are final, only the presidential pardon can provide a convicted service member with meaningful relief. MJA is dedicated to, Read More

Have you ever wanted to remove derogatory material from your official military record, request a medal you earned but were never awarded, or ask for a different discharge characterization of service or reenlistment code? If so, there is good news!  Each service branch maintains a Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCMR/BCNR) devoted to, Read More

Being titled in the military is as simple as being placed in the subject block of a CID, OSI, or NCIS report of investigation. When an investigation begins, the investigator on the case only needs to develop credible information that a person committed a crime. Credible information can be as little as an alleged, Read More

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects civilians against compulsory self-incrimination. In the seminal case of Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the United States Supreme Court ruled that when a person is interrogated while in police custody, they must be read their Miranda rights. These protections include not only the right to remain, Read More