Skip to Content
December 26, 2024 Clear | 24°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 2: Persons subject to this code; jurisdiction

Article 2. Persons subject to this code; jurisdiction.

(a) This code shall apply to all members of the state military forces. This code shall not apply to members serving in a title 10 status.

(b) Subject matter jurisdiction shall be established if a nexus exists between an offense, either military or non-military, and the state military force. Courts-martial have primary jurisdiction of military offenses as defined in article 1. A civilian court has primary jurisdiction of a non-military offense when an act or omission violates both this code and local criminal law, foreign or domestic. In such a case, a court-martial may be initiated only after the civilian authority has declined to prosecute or dismissed the charge, provided jeopardy has not attached. Jurisdiction over attempted crimes, conspiracy crimes, solicitation and accessory crimes must be determined by the underlying offense.