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
§2K1.3 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 27 people were sentenced under §2K1.3, and 5 sentences (19%) were within the guideline range, a lower share than in the years on either side. The median prison term was 18 months, and all 27 people (100%) pleaded guilty.
§2K1.3 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
In fiscal year 2018, 17 people were sentenced under §2K1.3, and the median prison term was 33 months, the highest median in the 10-year table. Of the 17, 11 (65%) received prison and 5 (29%) received probation only. In this group, 18% were in the highest criminal history category.
§2K1.3 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
Fiscal year 2017 was the largest year in the table for §2K1.3, with 30 people sentenced. Of the 30, 23 (77%) received prison, the median prison term was 18 months, and all 30 (100%) pleaded guilty. 13 sentences (43%) were within the guideline range.
§2K1.3 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 20 people were sentenced in federal court with §2K1.3 as the primary guideline. Of those, 15 (75%) received a prison term, with a median of 30 months, and 5 (25%) received probation only. The median was higher than the 18 months for fiscal years 2016 to 2025 combined.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, 28 people were sentenced in federal court under §2B1.4, "Insider Trading." Of those, 20 (71%) received prison, 6 (21%) received probation only, and the median prison term was 14 months. Restitution was ordered for 12 people (43%), and a fine for 15 (54%).
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Fiscal year 2024 had 36 people sentenced under §2B1.4, "Insider Trading," the largest count in the 10 years the table covers. The median prison term was 5 months, and 33 (92%) pleaded guilty. Most sentences were below the range.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
Among the 13 people sentenced in fiscal year 2023 under §2B1.4, "Insider Trading," 7 (54%) received a prison term, a lower share than the 75% for fiscal years 2016 to 2025 combined. The median prison term was 22 months. All 13 had a criminal history in the lowest category.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 17 people were sentenced in federal court under §2B1.4, "Insider Trading." The median prison term was 16 months, and 15 (88%) pleaded guilty. The median after a guilty plea was 16 months, and after a trial it was 18.5 months.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
Fiscal year 2020 had a small group under §2B1.4, "Insider Trading": 10 people sentenced in federal court. Of the 10, 6 (60%) received a prison term, with a median of 13.5 months, and 8 (80%) pleaded guilty. Because the group is small, one year says little about a pattern.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 35 people were sentenced in federal court with §2B1.4, titled "Insider Trading," as the primary guideline. Of those, 30 (86%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 6 months. Across fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the median under this guideline was 12 months.
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
10 people were sentenced in the District of Utah for murder offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2025, and all 10 (100%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 324 months (27 years), and 2 people received a life sentence. 5 people pleaded guilty and 5 were convicted after a trial.
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
10 people were sentenced in the District of Utah for national defense offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 10 pleaded guilty. 7 (70%) received a prison term, with a median of 36 months (3 years). Of the 9 people with guideline information, 8 were sentenced below the guideline range at the
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