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 Child Pornography Sentences in the Northern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
All 322 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) in the Northern District of Ohio in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 115 months (9.6 years). For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, the median was 90 months.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for immigration offenses in the Northern District of Ohio was 4.6 months. In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 545 people were sentenced, and 525 (96%) received a prison term. For immigration offenses across all 94 federal districts, the median was 7 months.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Northern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
Of the 945 people sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Northern District of Ohio in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 661 (70%) received a prison term and 194 (21%) received probation only. The median prison term was 24 months (2 years). For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, the
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Northern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Ohio, 1,726 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 1,615 (94%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 42 months (3.5 years), the same as the median for firearms offenses across all 94 federal districts. After a trial, the
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was 40% of the 7,866 people sentenced in the Northern District of Ohio in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 3,122 people. Of those, 2,916 (93%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 60 months (5 years). The median for drug trafficking across all 94 federal districts was al
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Michigan, 8 of the 10 people (80%) sentenced for environmental offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 7.5 months. For the same offense type in all 94 districts, 28% were sent to prison and the median was 5 months.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
The Eastern District of Michigan sentenced 11 people in the Commission's "Commercialized Vice" type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 10 of them were gambling cases. Of the 11, 7 (64%) received a prison term and 4 (36%) received probation only. The median prison term was 0 months.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Michigan, 18 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Other" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 18, 11 (61%) received a prison term and 7 (39%) received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months. 17 of the 18 (94%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
Of the 20 people sentenced for drug possession in the Eastern District of Michigan in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 11 (55%) received a prison term and 9 (45%) received probation only. The median prison term was 0 months. For this offense type in all 94 districts, 68% were sent to prison and the median
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
The Eastern District of Michigan sentenced 21 people in the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 27 months (2.2 years), compared with 18 months for the same type in all 94 districts. Most of these cases were for failure to register
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Michigan, 23 people were sentenced for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, mainly escape and contraband cases. Of the 23, 22 (96%) received a prison term, and the median was 11 months. The all-district median for this offense type was 10 months.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Eastern District of Michigan, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Michigan, 19 of 23 people (83%) sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses received a prison term in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 16 months. Restitution was ordered for 20 of the 23 (87%), and all 23 pleaded guilty.
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.