Legal Definitions - initiation of charges

Definition: Initiation of charges refers to the first report made to the appropriate military authority about an alleged offense committed by a person who is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This is different from preferring of charges.

Example: If a soldier is suspected of stealing from the military base, the first report made to the military authority about the alleged theft is the initiation of charges. This report will trigger an investigation into the matter.

Another example: A sailor is accused of assaulting a fellow sailor. The first report made to the military authority about the alleged assault is the initiation of charges. This report will start the legal process of investigating and prosecuting the accused sailor.

The examples illustrate how the initiation of charges is the first step in the legal process of investigating and prosecuting an alleged offense committed by a person subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.