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
§2D1.10 Endangering Human Life While Illegally Manufacturing a Controlled Substance: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 12 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2D1.10, which the Sentencing Guidelines Manual titles "Endangering Human Life While Illegally Manufacturing a Controlled Substance; Attempt or Conspiracy." 10 of the 12 (83%) were sent to prison, and the median prison te
§2H3.1 Interception of Communications: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 10 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2H3.1. The Sentencing Guidelines Manual titles it "Interception of Communications; Eavesdropping; Disclosure of Certain Private or Protected Information." 6 of the 10 (60%) received probation only, and 3 (30%) were sent
§2H3.3 Obstructing Correspondence: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, none of the 11 people sentenced under guideline §2H3.3, "Obstructing Correspondence," received a prison term. 10 of the 11 (91%) received probation only, and all 11 pleaded guilty. 10 of the 11 sentences (91%) were within the guideline range.
§2A3.3 Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Ward or Attempt to Commit Such Acts: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, 11 people were sentenced under guideline §2A3.3, "Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Ward or Attempt to Commit Such Acts; Criminal Sexual Abuse of an Individual in Federal Custody." 8 of the 11 (73%) received prison, with a median of 12.5 months, and 5 sentences (45%) were below the gui
§2A3.3 Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Ward or Attempt to Commit Such Acts: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 12 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2A3.3. The Sentencing Guidelines Manual titles it "Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Ward or Attempt to Commit Such Acts; Criminal Sexual Abuse of an Individual in Federal Custody." 10 of the 12 (83%) were sent to prison, with
§2G2.6 Child Exploitation Enterprises: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
Federal courts sentenced 11 people in fiscal year 2023 under guideline §2G2.6, "Child Exploitation Enterprises," and all 11 went to prison. The median prison term was 144 months, and 3 people received a life sentence. The 144-month median is lower than the 360 months for all fiscal years 2016 to 202
§2G2.6 Child Exploitation Enterprises: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 18 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2G2.6, "Child Exploitation Enterprises." All 18 pleaded guilty, all 18 were sent to prison, and a mandatory minimum applied to all 18. The median prison term was 370.5 months, which is 30.9 years.
§2H2.1 Obstructing an Election or Registration: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
None of the 14 people sentenced in fiscal year 2021 under guideline §2H2.1, "Obstructing an Election or Registration," received a prison term. 11 of the 14 (79%) received probation only. All 14 pleaded guilty, and 12 of the 14 sentences (86%) were within the guideline range.
§2H2.1 Obstructing an Election or Registration: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
Fiscal year 2019 had 17 people sentenced under guideline §2H2.1, "Obstructing an Election or Registration." 12 of them (71%) received probation only, and 4 (24%) were sent to prison with a median term of 1.5 months. 15 of the 17 sentences (88%) were within the guideline range.
§2D1.5 Continuing Criminal Enterprise: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Of the 14 people sentenced in fiscal year 2024 under guideline §2D1.5, "Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Attempt or Conspiracy," 12 (86%) received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request, and only 1 (7%) was within the range. All 14 went to prison, with a median of 180 months
§2D1.5 Continuing Criminal Enterprise: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 12 people were sentenced under guideline §2D1.5, titled "Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Attempt or Conspiracy." All 12 received a prison term, and a mandatory minimum applied to all 12. The median prison term was 204 months, which is 17 years.
§2E1.4 Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
In fiscal year 2024, 10 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2E1.4, "Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire." All 10 received a prison term, and the median was 85.5 months. No mandatory minimum applied to any of them, and 50% of the sentences we
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