Pretrial Investigation
An investigation under Article 32, UCMJ, that is required before convening a General Court-Martial, unless it is waived by an accused. Also called an Article 32 hearing or investigation, this procedure serves many of the fact finding purposes of the civilian grand jury proceeding. In the military however, the accused is present and he/she is represented by counsel, who can offer evidence in an attempt to convince the convening authority to withdraw the charges or resolve them in a lower forum.
Source: Judge Advocate General
