Military Trial Results · Analysis
Understanding Trends in Military Practice
Analysis of real court-martial records: what gets charged, how cases end, what sentences look like, how experienced the lawyers of record were, and what changed when the law did.
Every number is computed from the Military Trial Results data, built from the services' public court-martial records. Each post says how many cases it rests on, the years covered, and how we counted. Read how this data was built before citing it.
Browse the Analysis
- By InstallationBases and regions, by time period
- By OffenseUCMJ articles, rising and falling charges
- By ServiceArmy, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps
- By YearWhat each year and month looked like
- SentencesConfinement, discharges, judge alone vs. members
- Counsel ExperiencePrior cases of the lawyers of record
- Law ChangesBefore and after the major reforms
- Episode CompanionsThe numbers behind podcast episodes
Federal Prosecution Analysis
How do federal prosecutions compare with courts-martial? These posts use the U.S. Sentencing Commission's records of everyone sentenced in federal court and the Federal Judicial Center's records of every federal defendant whose case ended, including dismissals and acquittals, for fiscal years 2016 to 2025. They cover sentences, guilty pleas, trials and acquittals, mandatory minimums, and supervised release, offense by offense. Where a federal crime has a close counterpart in the UCMJ, the post sets the two side by side. Where it doesn't, the post reports the federal numbers on their own. For how military law has moved toward the federal system, start with Military Moves Toward Sentencing Guidelines to Mirror the Federal System.
Latest Analysis
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 6 of the 11 people sentenced for environmental offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (55%) received probation only. The other 5 (45%) went to prison, with a median prison term of 0 months. The group is too small for firm conclusions.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
Commercialized vice cases in the District of Massachusetts ended with a median prison term of 7.5 months for the 10 people sent to prison, out of 13 sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median in all 94 districts was 18 months. The 13-person group is small, so each person changes the percenta
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
The District of Massachusetts sentenced 13 people under the Sentencing Commission's "Forgery/Counter/Copyright" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. All 13 pleaded guilty. The 9 who went to prison (69%) had a median prison term of 11.5 months, while the median across all 94 districts was 17.6
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 18 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 under the Sentencing Commission's catch-all offense type "Other." A total of 11 (61%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 0 months. In all 94 districts, the median was 0.2 months.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, all 24 people sentenced for kidnapping in the years covered received a prison term. The median prison term was 137.5 months (11.5 years), and 1 person received a life sentence. In all 94 districts, the median for kidnapping was 155 months.
Federal Food and Drug Offense Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 24 people were sentenced for food and drug offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of these, 15 (63%) received a prison term, and 7 (29%) received probation only. In all 94 districts, 32% were sent to prison for this offense type.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 35 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 27 (77%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 5 months. In all 94 districts, the median for this offense type was 12 months.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 40 people were sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A total of 35 (88%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months. In all 94 districts, the median for this offense type was 24 months.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 41 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 under the Sentencing Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" type, and all 41 pleaded guilty. Of these, 40 (98%) received a prison term, with a median of 20.2 months. The median across all 94 districts was 18
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 43 people were sentenced for bribery and corruption offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of these, 30 (70%) received a prison term, and 6 (14%) received probation only. The median prison term was 15 months, compared with 18 months in all 94 districts.
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 53 people were sentenced for murder offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 52 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 235 months (19.6 years), and 7 people received a life sentence. In all 94 districts, the median for murder was 240 months.
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of Massachusetts, FY2016–2025
In the District of Massachusetts, 66 people were sentenced for assault offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 65 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 78 months (6.5 years). In all 94 districts, the median for assault was 42 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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