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 Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
Only 17 people were sentenced for burglary or trespass offenses in the Central District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 16 (94%) received a prison term, with a median of 13 months. In all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 18 months.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Central District of California, 19 people were sentenced for obscenity and other sex offenses between fiscal years 2017 and 2024. Of those, 16 (84%) received prison, with a median prison term of 18 months, the same as in all 94 federal districts. Failure to register as a sex offender was the
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
The Central District of California sentenced 25 people for national defense offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 21 (84%) received a prison term, with a median of 38.1 months (3.2 years). In all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 24 months.
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 26 people were sentenced for individual rights offenses in the Central District of California. Of those, 19 (73%) received prison, with a median prison term of 24 months. People convicted after a trial had a median of 78 months, compared with 18 months after a guilty pl
Federal Food and Drug Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
Food and drug offenses in the Central District of California usually ended in probation. Of the 52 people sentenced, 44 (85%) received probation only and 7 (13%) received a prison term. All 52 (100%) pleaded guilty, and 44 (88%) of the 50 people with guideline information were sentenced within the r
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 60 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in the Central District of California. Of those, 53 (88%) received prison, and the median prison term was 18 months. For the same offense type in all 94 federal districts, the median was 24 months.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
All 65 people sentenced for murder offenses in the Central District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and 9 of them received a life sentence. The median prison term was 240 months (20 years), the same as in all 94 federal districts. A guilty plea was entered by 49 of
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 71 people were sentenced for environmental offenses in the Central District of California. Probation only was the most common result, ordered for 41 people (58%), while 20 (28%) received prison. The median prison term was 7.4 months, compared with 5 months in all 94 fed
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
The Central District of California sentenced 78 people for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 61 (78%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months. The median for the same offense type in all 94 federal districts was 17.6 months.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
Most federal drug possession cases in the Central District of California ended without prison. Of the 94 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 81 (86%) received probation only and 12 (13%) received a prison term. Among those 12, the median prison term was 0.4 months, compared with 6 months
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Central District of California, 94 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 58 (62%) received a prison term and 22 (23%) received probation only. The median prison term was 15 months, compared with 12 months for the same offense type
Federal Assault Sentences in the Central District of California, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 103 people were sentenced for assault offenses in the Central District of California, and 91 of them (88%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 42 months (3.5 years), the same as for assault cases in all 94 federal districts. A sentence within the guidelin
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