Legal Question in Military Law in Colorado

Re: scm, spcm, gcm

SCM is often used to refer to a Summary Court-Martial. While a court-martial, and though it uses the rules of evidence, it is administrative in nature and will not be regarded as a criminal conviction.

Also, the maximum punishment is minimal, with reduction of a paygrade or two, 30 days confinement and loss 2/3 months pay the limits of its jurisdiction.

SPCM is often used to refer to a Special Court-Martial. This is commonly referred to as the military's misdemeanor court, with a maximum punishment of one year of confinement and loss of 2/3 of basic pay and a Bad Conduct Discharge the maximum punishment.

GCM is often used to refer to a general court-martial. This is the most serious of all and is similar to a federal trail. Maximum punishment is upto life in prison (or death in some cases), loss of all pay and a Dishonorable Discharge

There is more to this than above, but the above should give a general idea