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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 57A: Deferment of sentences

Article 57A. Deferment of sentences.

(a) On application by an accused who is under sentence to confinement that has not been ordered executed, the convening authority or, if the accused is no longer under that person's jurisdiction, the person exercising general court-martial jurisdiction over the command to which the accused is currently assigned, may in that person's sole discretion defer service of the sentence to confinement. The deferment shall terminate when the sentence is ordered executed. The deferment may be rescinded at any time by the person who granted it or, if the accused is no longer under that person's jurisdiction, by the person exercising general court-martial jurisdiction over the command to which the accused is currently assigned.

(b)(1) In any case in which a court-martial sentences an accused referred to in paragraph (2) to confinement, the convening authority may defer the service of the sentence to confinement, without the consent of the accused, until after the accused has been permanently released to the state military forces by a state, the United States or a foreign country referred to in that paragraph.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall apply to a person subject to this code who:

(A) while in the custody of a state, the United States or a foreign country is temporarily returned by that state, the United States or a foreign country to the state military forces for trial by court-martial; and

(B) after the court-martial, is returned to that state, the United States or a foreign country under the authority of a mutual agreement or treaty.

(c) In any case in which a court-martial sentences an accused to confinement and the sentence to confinement has been ordered executed, but in which review of the case under subsection (a) of article 67 is pending, the adjutant general may defer further service of the sentence to confinement while that review is pending.