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 Food and Drug Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
Of the 11 people sentenced in the District of Utah for food and drug offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 8 (73%) received probation only and 3 (27%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 3 people was 36 months (3 years), higher than the 17.3 months for this offense type in all
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
11 people were sentenced in the District of Utah for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 11 pleaded guilty, 9 (82%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 12 months. The median for this offense type in all 94 districts was 17.6 months.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 16 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 12 (75%) received a prison term, with a median of 9.2 months, and 3 (19%) received probation only. The median prison term was lower than the 24 months for this offense type in all 94 di
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 14 of the 16 people sentenced for burglary or trespass offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (88%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 22 months, higher than the 18 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. Sentences below the guideline range at the go
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
Most federal environmental offense cases in the District of Utah ended in probation only. Of 20 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 16 (80%) received probation with no prison, and 4 (20%) received a prison term with a median of 2 months. Across all 94 districts, 28% of environmental cases
Federal Manslaughter Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 21 people were sentenced for manslaughter offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, and all 21 (100%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 51 months (4.2 years), lower than the 63 months for the same offense type across all 94 federal districts. All 21 pleaded gui
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 26 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Other" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 17 (65%) received probation only. The other 9 (35%) received a prison term, with a median of 6 months. All 26 pleaded guilty.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 28 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Restitution was ordered for 24 (86%). Of the 28, 12 (43%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months, and 14 (50%) received probation only. 6 people were convicted after a trial.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
Of the 57 people sentenced for drug possession in the District of Utah in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 36 (63%) received probation only and 21 (37%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 0.3 months. In all 94 districts, 68% were sent to prison and the median was 6 months.
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
The District of Utah sentenced 58 people for assault in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 49 (84%) received a prison term, with a median of 21 months, compared with 42 months in all 94 districts. 4 people were convicted after a trial, and the median for the 3 of them sent to prison was 72 months.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 52 of the 58 people sentenced in the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 were sentenced under the guideline for failure to register as a sex offender. Of the 58, 54 (93%) received a prison term, and the median was 13 months, compared
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of Utah, FY2016–2025
In the District of Utah, 64 people were sentenced for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 60 of the cases used the escape guideline. Of the 64, 63 (98%) received a prison term, with a median of 10.1 months. In criminal history, 73% were in the highest category.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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