---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 833"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "833"
heading: "Art. 33. Disposition guidance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/833"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice"
  - "Subchapter VI — Pre-Trial Procedure"
---

# §833. Art. 33. Disposition guidance


The President shall direct the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense to issue, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, non-binding guidance regarding factors that commanders, convening authorities, staff [judge advocates](/usc/10/801.md?p=13), and [judge advocates](/usc/10/801.md?p=13) should take into account when exercising their duties with respect to disposition of charges and specifications in the interest of justice and discipline under sections [830](/usc/10/830.md) and [834](/usc/10/834.md) of this title (articles 30 and 34). Such guidance shall take into account, with appropriate consideration of [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) requirements, the principles contained in official guidance of the Attorney General to attorneys for the Government with respect to disposition of Federal criminal cases in accordance with the principle of fair and evenhanded administration of Federal criminal law.


## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 49; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LVI, § 5204, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2906.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 833 | 50:604. | May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 33), 64 Stat. 119. |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “When a person is held for trial by general court-martial the commanding officer shall, within eight days after the accused is ordered into arrest or confinement, if practicable, forward the charges, together with the investigation and allied papers, to the officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction. If that is not practicable, he shall report in writing to that officer the reasons for delay.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2016 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective on Jan. 1, 2019, as designated by the President, with implementing regulations and provisions relating to applicability to various situations, see section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–328 and Ex. Ord. No. 13825, set out as notes under section 801 of this title.