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
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, 10 people were sentenced under §2K2.5. 4 (40%) received a prison term, with a median of 5.5 months, and 5 (50%) received probation only. A quarter of those sent to prison received 28.5 months or more.
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
In fiscal year 2020, 6 of the 17 sentences (35%) under §2K2.5 were above the guideline range, and 11 (65%) were within it. 13 of the 17 people (76%) received prison, with a median prison term of 12 months. All 17 pleaded guilty.
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 17 people were sentenced under §2K2.5, and 10 of them (59%) received probation only. 6 (35%) received a prison term, with a median of 5 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 5 of the 17 (29%).
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
In fiscal year 2018, 12 people were sentenced under §2K2.5. 11 pleaded guilty (92%) and 1 was convicted after a trial. 8 of the 12 (67%) received prison, with a median prison term of 10.8 months, and 9 sentences (75%) were within the guideline range.
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, 11 of the 12 sentences (92%) under §2K2.5 were within the guideline range, and 1 was above it. 7 of the 12 people (58%) received prison, with a median prison term of 10.5 months. All 12 pleaded guilty.
§2K2.5 Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Federal Facility: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 10 people were sentenced in federal court with §2K2.5 as the primary guideline. 7 of the 10 (70%) received a prison term, and the median among them was 7.3 months. A quarter of those sent to prison received 64.7 months or more.
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
All 11 people sentenced under §2X1.1 in fiscal year 2025 (100%) received a prison term, and the median was 60 months (5 years). A quarter received 144 months or more. 7 sentences (64%) were below the guideline range at the government's request.
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
In fiscal year 2024, the one person convicted at trial under §2X1.1 received a prison term of 30 months, while the median after a guilty plea was 37 months. Across the 10 people sentenced, 8 (80%) received a prison term, with a median of 33.5 months (2.8 years). Only 1 sentence (10%) was below the r
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 20 people were sentenced with §2X1.1 as the primary guideline. 19 (95%) received a prison term, with a median of 41 months (3.4 years), and 0 received probation only. The most common offense type was Kidnapping, with 5 people.
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 8 of the 15 people sentenced under §2X1.1 (53%) received a sentence below the guideline range without a government request, and 2 (13%) received a sentence within the range. 13 (87%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 33 months (2.8 years).
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, the median prison term under §2X1.1 was 20 months, the lowest median among the yearly figures in the table. 14 of the 16 people (88%) received a prison term. 2 sentences (13%) were above the guideline range, and 1 person (6%) received supervised release for life.
§2X1.1 Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
All 13 people sentenced under §2X1.1 in fiscal year 2020 (100%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 24 months (2 years), and 0 people received probation only. 12 of the 13 (92%) pleaded guilty.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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