Defending Those Who Defend Us®
Upon receiving a conviction, the service member may request clemency, or leniency, from the Commanding Officer/General. Such a request is not binding to the Commanding Officer/General but constitutes an opportunity for the convicted service member and his or her defense counsel to present mitigating factors or other considerations that might warrant leniency. Common reasons for a Commanding Officer/General to suspend or defer punishment include marginal victim-impact; overly harsh sentence; family circumstances; mental condition; and the overall military record of the convicted service member.