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 District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
40 people were sentenced for bribery or corruption offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 23 (58%) received a prison term with a median of 6 months, lower than the 18 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 10 (25%) received probation only, and 39 of the 4
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 52 people sentenced for murder offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 120 months (10 years), lower than the 240 months for murder in all 94 districts. 4 people received a life sentence, and 48 of the 52 (92%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
63 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 42 (67%) received a prison term with a median of 12 months, the same as the 12 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 19 (30%) received probation only.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
73 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 37 (51%) received a prison term with a median of 18 months, and 22 (30%) received probation only. In all 94 districts, 66% of people in this offense type were sent to prison, and the median was
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
83 people were sentenced for assault offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 80 (96%) received a prison term, and the median was 109 months (9.1 years), higher than the 42 months for assault in all 94 districts. 1 person received a life sentence.
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
131 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 131 pleaded guilty. 129 (98%) received a prison term with a median of 60 months (5 years), lower than the 90 months for this offense type in
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
135 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 131 (97%) received a prison term with a median of 180 months (15 years), the same as for this offense type in all 94 districts. 92 people (68%) received supervised release for life.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
137 people were sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 137 pleaded guilty. 106 (77%) received a prison term, with a median of 14.4 months, lower than the 17.6 months for this offense type in all 94 distric
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
140 of the 141 people sentenced for robbery offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 120 months (10 years), higher than the 90 months for robbery in all 94 districts. A mandatory minimum applied to 70 of the 141 people (50%).
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
161 people were sentenced for money laundering offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 138 (86%) received a prison term, with a median of 36 months (3 years), lower than the 40 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 1 person received a life sentence.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 717 people sentenced for immigration offenses in the District of South Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty, and 693 (97%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 5.3 months, lower than the 7 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 85% of the guilty pleas wer
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of South Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the District of South Carolina, 945 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 675 (71%) received a prison term with a median of 18 months, and 200 (21%) received probation only. Restitution was ordered for 785 people (83%).
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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