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
18 U.S.C. 3146, Penalty for failure to appear: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 956 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was under 18 U.S.C. 3146, 418 (44%) had their cases dismissed in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Another 523 (55%) pleaded guilty, and 15 (2%) went to trial. Of the 537 who were convicted, 507 (94%) received a prison term on that
18 U.S.C. 3, Accessory after the fact: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 1,032 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 18 U.S.C. 3, 994 (96%) pleaded guilty, 35 (3%) had their cases dismissed, and 3 went to trial in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. None of the 3 trials ended in an acquittal. Most of these charges were not felonies: 42%
26 U.S.C. 7201, Attempt to evade or defeat tax: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 1,071 federal defendants whose most serious final charge fell under 26 U.S.C. 7201, 1,008 (94%) were convicted in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those convicted, 766 (76%) received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 18 months. Trials ended 76 cases (7%), and 7 of those trials (9
18 U.S.C. 1512, Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 1,078 federal defendants whose most serious charge was under 18 U.S.C. 1512 when their cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 224 went to trial (21%). Those trials ended in an acquittal 27 times (12%). Overall, 885 defendants (82%) were convicted, and the median prison term on this charge was
18 U.S.C. 554, Smuggling goods from the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal records list 1,137 defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 with 18 U.S.C. 554 as the most serious charge. Of those, 1,089 (96%) were convicted, nearly all by guilty plea. Among the 959 who received a prison term on that charge, the median term was 30 months (2.5 years).
46 U.S.C. 70506, Penalties: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Among 1,152 federal defendants whose most serious charge fell under 46 U.S.C. 70506, only 33 went to trial, and 9 of those trials ended in an acquittal (27%). Guilty pleas resolved 1,090 cases (95%). Of the 1,114 convicted, 1,113 received a prison term on the charge, with a median of 90 months (7.5
18 U.S.C. 1591, Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of the 1,067 federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1591 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 1,060 (more than 99%) received a prison term on that charge. The median term was 180 months (15 years), and 41 people received life. Trials were held for 194 defendants (17%), and 11 of those trials ended in
26 U.S.C. 5861, Prohibited acts: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal trials under 26 U.S.C. 5861 were uncommon, but when they happened, 10 of 37 (27%) ended in an acquittal in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Across all 1,219 defendants, 1,115 (91%) pleaded guilty and 1,142 (94%) were convicted. Of those convicted, 993 (87%) received a prison term on this charge, w
18 U.S.C. 2119, Motor vehicles: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal records list 1,277 defendants whose cases under 18 U.S.C. 2119 ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 1,112 (87%) were convicted, and 1,096 of those convicted received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 97 months (8.1 years). Another 85 defendants (7%) went to trial, and 20
50 U.S.C. 797, Penalty for violation of security regulations and orders: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 1,335 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 50 U.S.C. 797, 1,219 (91%) pleaded guilty, 111 (8%) had the charges dismissed, and 5 went to trial, over fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Every one of these charges was recorded as a Class A misdemeanor. Most of the ca
42 U.S.C. 408, Penalties: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 1,434 federal defendants whose most serious charge was under 42 U.S.C. 408, 1,134 (79%) pleaded guilty and 282 (20%) had their cases dismissed in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 18 went to trial, and 3 of those trials ended in an acquittal. Of the 1,149 convicted, 877 (76%) received a prison term
18 U.S.C. 1544, Misuse of passport: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of the 1,488 federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1544 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 1,393 (94%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 6 months. Guilty pleas ended 1,487 of the 1,542 cases (96%). Just 1 case went to trial.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
Get the free newsletter.
Clips, audiograms and the opening of every issue, free.