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 Murder Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
10 of the 92 people sentenced for murder offenses in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a life sentence. All 92 received a prison term, and the median was 240 months (20 years), the same as the median for all 94 federal districts.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
48% of the 96 people sentenced for prison offenses in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 were in the highest criminal history category (VI), and 1% were in the lowest. 95 (99%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months. All 96 pleaded guilty.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
Of the 113 people sentenced for money laundering in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 22 (19%) received a sentence within the guideline range, compared with 25% for all 94 federal districts. 85 (75%) received a prison term, with a median of 48 months.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
All 166 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 200 months (16.7 years), which is higher than the 180 months for all 94 federal districts. 130 of the 166 (78%) were subject to a mandatory minim
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Missouri, 82% of the 177 people sentenced for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a sentence within the guideline range, compared with 62% for all 94 federal districts. 176 (more than 99%) received a prison term, and the median was 5.1 months.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for the 286 people sentenced for robbery in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 was 120 months. For all 94 federal districts, it was 90 months. All 286 (100%) received a prison term, and a mandatory minimum applied to 194 (68%).
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
All 418 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 72 months, which is lower than the 90 months for all 94 federal districts. 345 people (83%) received supervis
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
1,147 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 767 (67%) received a prison term, and 313 (27%) received probation only. Restitution was ordered for 1,013 people (88%).
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 1,199 of the 2,706 people (44%) sentenced for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 2,572 (95%) received a prison term, with a median of 60 months, the same as the median for all 94 federal districts.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Eastern District of Missouri, FY2016–2025
Firearms offenses were 40% of the 9,425 people sentenced in the Eastern District of Missouri in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 3,724 people. 3,570 (96%) received a prison term, and the median was 38 months. For all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 42 months.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Eastern District of Tennessee, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Tennessee, 11 people were sentenced for bribery or corruption offenses in fiscal years 2020 to 2025. 5 (45%) received a prison term, and 4 (36%) received probation only. None was sentenced within the guideline range: 8 were below it at the government's request and 3 were b
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the Eastern District of Tennessee, FY2016–2025
All 11 people sentenced for kidnapping in the Eastern District of Tennessee, all in fiscal years 2016 to 2020, received prison terms. The median prison term was 235 months (19.6 years), and 2 people received a life sentence. The median for all 94 federal districts was 155 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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