BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 51-206
31 AUGUST 2018
Law
USE OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES FOR
TRIAL OF MISDEMEANORS
COMMITTED BY CIVILIANS
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the
e-Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: AF/JAA
Supersedes: AFI51-905, 30 September 2014
Certified by: AF/JAA
(Mr. Conrad Von Wald)
Pages: 6
This instruction implements Air Force Policy Directive 51-2, Military Justice. It provides
guidance and procedures for prosecution before U.S. magistrate judges of civilians who commit
misdemeanor or petty offenses on United States Air Force installations where the United States
has either exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction. Subject to provisions herein regarding joint bases,
the procedures contained in this Instruction do not apply to offenses committed by service
members in the Regular Air Force (RegAF), or offenses committed by service members in the
Air Force Reserve (AFR), and Air National Guard (ANG), when such service members are on
Title 10 orders. Ensure all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication
are maintained in accordance with Air Force Manual 33-363, Management of Records, and
disposed of in accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule located in the Air
Force Records Information Management System. Refer recommended changes and questions
about this publication to the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF Form 847,
Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF Forms 847 from the field through the
appropriate functional chain of command. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements
in this publication are identified with a Tier (“T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3”) number following the
compliance statement. See AFI 33-360, Publications and Forms Management, for a description
of the authorities associated with the Tier numbers. Submit requests for waivers through the
chain of command to the appropriate Tier waiver approval authority, or alternately, to the
requestor’s commander for non-tiered compliance items.
This publication may be supplemented at any level, but all direct Supplements must be routed to
the OPR of this publication for coordination prior to certification and approval. This Instruction
