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 Other Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 2,025 people in the Eastern District of Virginia were sentenced under the Commission's offense type "Other", which was 20% of the district's 10,381 people. 1,682 (83%) received probation only, and 236 (12%) received a prison term with a median of 0.2 months. A fine was
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Eastern District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
Drug Trafficking was 22% of the 10,381 people sentenced in the Eastern District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 2,318 people. The median prison term was 87 months (7.2 years), compared with 60 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. A mandatory minimum prison term applied
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
10 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for the offense type "Individual Rights" in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 8 (80%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 46 months (3.8 years). 8 of the 10 pleaded guilty and 2 were convicted after a trial.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
12 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for the Commission's offense type "Drug Possession" in fiscal years 2017 to 2024. 10 of the 12 (83%) received a prison term, the median prison term was 8 months, and a mandatory minimum applied to 6 of the 12 people (50%). All 12 pleaded gui
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the District of South Carolina, 15 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 under the U.S. Sentencing Commission's offense type "Other." 10 of the 15 (67%) received a prison term, with a median of 16.5 months, and 4 (27%) received probation only. All 15 pleaded guilty.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
19 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for kidnapping in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 19 received a prison term. The median prison term was 168 months (14 years), compared with 155 months across all 94 districts. 1 person received a life sentence.
Federal Extortion and Racketeering Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
21 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for extortion and racketeering offenses, and all 21 pleaded guilty. Only 10 (48%) received a prison term, compared with 81% across all 94 districts, and 8 (38%) received probation only. The median prison term was 21 months. The cases covered
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
25 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 25 pleaded guilty. 24 (96%) received a prison term, with a median of 11 months, compared with 10 months across all 94 districts. 44% were in the highest criminal history category.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
26 people were sentenced in the District of South Carolina for environmental offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 8 (31%) received a prison term, and 13 (50%) received probation only. The median prison term was 8.5 months, compared with 5 months across all 94 districts.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the District of South Carolina, 27 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 for the U.S. Sentencing Commission's offense type "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses." The median prison term was 19.9 months among the 25 who were sent to prison, and all 27 pleaded guilty. For the same offense type
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
30 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 28 (93%) received a prison term, with a median of 27.3 months (2.3 years), higher than the 24 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 29 pleaded guilty, and 59% of th
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
30 people were sentenced for commercialized vice offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 10 (33%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months, the same as the 18 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 9 (30%) received probation only.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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