§15-1E-56. Maximum limits.

(a) The punishment which a court-martial may direct for an offense may not exceed such limits as prescribed by this article, but in no instance may a sentence exceed more than ten years for a military offense, nor shall a sentence of death be adjudged. A conviction by general court-martial of any military offense for which an accused may receive a sentence of confinement for more than one year is a felony offense. Except for convictions by a summary court-martial, all other military offenses are misdemeanors. Any conviction by a summary court-martial is not a criminal conviction.

(b) The limits of punishment for violations of the punitive articles prescribed herein shall be lesser of the sentences prescribed by the manual for courts-martial of the United States in effect on January 1, 2004, and the state manual for courts-martial, but in no instance shall any punishment exceed that authorized by this article.