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 Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Virginia, 88 people were sentenced for bribery and corruption offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 64 (73%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 22 months. Most sentences were below the guideline range: 52% were below it without a government r
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
103 people were sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Tax" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is less than 1% of the district's people sentenced. 83 (81%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months. For tax offenses in all 94 federal districts, the
Federal Assault Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 108 people were sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Assault" in the Eastern District of Virginia. After a guilty plea the median prison term was 37.5 months, and after a trial it was 240 months. 28 people (26%) received probation only.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
66 of the 118 people sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Murder" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a life sentence. All 118 received a prison term, and the median was 470 months (39.2 years). For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, the medi
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
169 people were sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Money Laundering" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), compared with 40 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. 37% of sentences were within the
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
235 of the 236 people sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Robbery" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 144 months (12 years), compared with 90 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. 87% pleaded guilty, an
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Eastern District of Virginia sentenced 272 people for the Commission's offense type "Sexual Abuse" in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 188 months (15.7 years), compared with 180 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. 65 people (24%) received supervised rel
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Eastern District of Virginia sentenced 324 people for the Commission's offense type "Drug Possession" in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 191 (59%) received probation only, and 125 (39%) received a prison term with a median of 0.1 months. A fine was ordered for 222 people (69%).
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
405 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 315 of them (78%). The median prison term was 74 months (6.2 years), compared with 90 months for this o
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
1,090 people were sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Immigration" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 98% received a prison term, and the median was 3.7 months. For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, the median prison term was 7 months. In this dis
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Eastern District of Virginia sentenced 1,096 people for the Commission's offense type "Firearms" in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 92% received a prison term, with a median of 48 months (4 years). For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, the median was 42 months. Sentences were within the
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
1,603 people were sentenced for the Commission's offense type "Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement" in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 15% of the district's 10,381 people. 70% received a prison term, and the median was 27 months. For this offense type in all 94 federal d
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