Federal Sentences in the Western District of Washington, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Washington sent a smaller share of people to prison than federal courts overall: 78% of the 3,992 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, compared with 91% for all 94 federal districts. Probation only was ordered for 826 people (21%). For those sent to prison, the medi
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In brief: The Western District of Washington sent a smaller share of people to prison than federal courts overall: 78% of the 3,992 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, compared with 91% for all 94 federal districts. Probation only was ordered for 826 people (21%). For those sent to prison, the median term was 30 months (2.5 years), compared with 24 months nationally.
This post uses the U.S. Sentencing Commission's records of 3,992 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Acquittals and dismissals come from a second source, the Federal Judicial Center's records of 753,808 federal defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. It is part of the Federal Prosecution Analysis series, which builds on Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System. How the numbers were built: How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built.
Probation Was More Common Here
Of the 3,992 people sentenced, 3,121 received a prison term. Another 826 received probation only, meaning no prison or other confinement.
The district also ordered fines more often than restitution. A fine was ordered for 899 people (23%), and restitution for 776 (19%).
Supervised release after prison was ordered for 2,449 people (61%). The median supervised release term was 36 months, and 81 people (2%) received it for life.
An Offense Category Labeled Other
Drug trafficking was the largest offense type: 1,202 people (30%), with a median prison term of 60 months.
The second largest group was the Sentencing Commission's category labeled Other, with 732 people (18%). The median prison term for that group was 0 months, and more than 99% pleaded guilty. The records do not break this category into specific offenses.
Fraud, theft, and embezzlement accounted for 569 people (14%), firearms for 370 (9%), and immigration for 296 (7%). Child pornography (images of child exploitation) accounted for 164 (4%), with a median of 68 months. Sexual abuse cases (152 people) had a median of 120 months.
| Offense type | People sentenced | Share of district | Median prison | Pleaded guilty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Trafficking | 1,202 | 30% | 60 months | 98% |
| Other | 732 | 18% | 0 months | more than 99% |
| Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement | 569 | 14% | 18 months | 96% |
| Firearms | 370 | 9% | 30 months | 96% |
| Immigration | 296 | 7% | 5.5 months | more than 99% |
| Child Pornography | 164 | 4% | 68 months | 98% |
| Sexual Abuse | 152 | 4% | 120 months | 89% |
| Money Laundering | 132 | 3% | 45 months | 96% |
Prison Term Lengths
Among people sent to prison, a quarter received 66 months or more. A quarter received 6 months or less. 1 person received a life sentence.
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 1,097 people (33%). The data shows that a minimum applied, not which statute set it.
Guilty Pleas and Trial Convictions
Guilty pleas resolved 3,869 cases (97%), the same rate as all districts. 123 people were convicted after a trial.
After a guilty plea, the median prison term was 30 months. After a trial, it was 72 months, based on 115 people convicted at trial and sent to prison.
More than 99% of guilty pleas had a written plea agreement. Less than 1% were straight pleas with no agreement.
Where Sentences Fell Against the Range
Guideline information was recorded for 3,977 people. The largest group, 1,824 (46%), was sentenced below the range at the government's request.
Within-range sentences were 1,402 (35%), lower than the 48% for all districts. Below-range sentences without a government request were 704 (18%), and above-range sentences were 47 (1%).
Criminal History and Year-by-Year Counts
56% of people sentenced were in category I, the lowest criminal history category, and 8% were in category VI, the highest. Court-martial records have no criminal history field.
The district sentenced 1,969 people in fiscal years 2016 to 2019 and 2,023 in fiscal years 2020 to 2025. The yearly median prison term was 18 months in 2018 and 48 months in 2023. Federal fiscal years begin in October.
| Fiscal year | People sentenced | Median prison | Pleaded guilty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 534 | 30 months | 96% |
| 2017 | 462 | 24 months | 96% |
| 2018 | 507 | 18 months | 97% |
| 2019 | 466 | 24 months | 98% |
| 2020 | 269 | 20 months | 97% |
| 2021 | 358 | 36 months | 98% |
| 2022 | 374 | 36 months | 96% |
| 2023 | 359 | 48 months | 97% |
| 2024 | 317 | 42 months | 96% |
| 2025 | 346 | 44 months | 98% |
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Bremerton, and Data Limits
Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Bremerton are in this district and appear in this site's court-martial data. Courts-martial are tried in military courts, not in this federal district court.
The Sentencing Commission data covers only people who were convicted and sentenced. Acquittals and dismissals are not in it, and prison terms reflect the sentence imposed, not time served.
How We Counted
Everyone sentenced in federal court in the Western District of Washington (U.S. Sentencing Commission district label "Washington West") in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (3,992). Offense types are the Commission's OFFGUIDE categories.
Federal fiscal years run from October 1 to September 30. No person, judge, or lawyer is identified in any of these records.
What to Keep in Mind
No parole in federal prison; credit for good conduct. Federal prison has no parole for crimes committed on or after November 1, 1987. A federal prisoner can earn up to 54 days of good conduct credit for each year of the sentence the judge imposed, which is about 15%. Some federal prisoners can also earn First Step Act time credits, but many offenses make a person ineligible. The numbers in this post are the sentences judges imposed, not the time people actually served.
Federal supervised release. Most federal prison sentences are followed by a term of supervised release that the judge sets as part of the sentence. A person who violates it can be sent back to prison. A court-martial cannot sentence anyone to supervision after release. Military parole and mandatory supervised release are decided later by a board, not by the judge at trial.
Who decides the sentence, and under what rules. Federal judges sentence every federal case. They must calculate the Sentencing Guidelines range, which is advisory, and must impose any mandatory minimum the statute requires unless an exception applies. In courts-martial, the accused could choose sentencing by members until the rules changed. For cases in which every guilty finding is for an offense committed after December 27, 2023, a military judge sentences alone, within sentencing parameters. Courts-martial tried in 2024 and later include both old-rule and new-rule cases, and the data cannot tell them apart.
Time periods. Federal numbers are by federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30), based on the sentencing date. The military numbers are by trial date. Neither source has the date of the offense, so a change in law shows up in either data set gradually.
How life sentences and "time served" are counted. In the federal numbers, a life sentence is counted as 470 months, and any other sentence longer than 470 months is counted as just under 470 months. A sentence of "time served" is counted as one day (0.03 months). Averages are affected by these rules; medians much less.
Mandatory minimum sentences. Many federal statutes on drugs, images of child exploitation, child sex abuse, and firearms carry mandatory minimum prison terms. The UCMJ has mandatory minimums only for a few offenses (a dishonorable discharge or dismissal for rape and sexual assault, and life for premeditated murder). Federal sentences for these offenses are partly set by Congress, not by the judge.
Related Analysis
- Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System (the background article)
- Federal Prosecution Analysis (all federal posts)
- How the Federal Comparison Data Was Built (sources and method)
- Child Pornography: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Child Pornography: Courts-Martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Sexual Abuse of an Adult: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Sexual Abuse of an Adult: Courts-Martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement: Courts-Martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Drug Use: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Drug Use: Courts-Martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Bremerton vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- Theft and Fraud: Courts-Martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord vs. Federal Court in the Western District of Washington (installation comparison)
- How Often Federal Judges Sentence Outside the Guideline Range
- Mandatory Minimums: How Many Federal Sentences Are Set by Congress
- U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles (source)
- Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (criminal defendants) (source)
About the author. Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts Where All The Bodies Are Buried and runs the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart. This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.