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 Money Laundering Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
In the District of North Dakota, 76 of the 100 people sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request, and only 16 were within it. The median prison term was 72 months (6 years), higher than the 40 months for this
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 73 of the 105 people (70%) sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the District of North Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 105 received prison, with a median term of 108 months (9 years). That is higher than the 90
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
In the District of North Dakota, 159 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term among the 127 sent to prison was 1.6 months, lower than the 20 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 124 peopl
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
All 192 people sentenced for sexual abuse in the District of North Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, with a median of 120 months (10 years). That is lower than the 180 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. Guilty pleas were less common here (91%) than across
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
Of the 258 people sentenced for assault in the District of North Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 253 (98%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months (2 years). That is lower than the 42 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 135 people (52%).
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
The District of North Dakota sentenced 276 people for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 42 months (3.5 years), the same as across all 94 districts. By criminal history, 38% of these people were in the highest category, VI, and 11% were in the lowest, cate
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for immigration offenses in the District of North Dakota was 2.8 months, based on 349 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. That is lower than the 7 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. Of the 349, 344 (99%) received prison, and 306 had unlawful entry
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of North Dakota, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 46% of the 3,337 people sentenced in the District of North Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,533 people. Their median prison term was 50 months (4.2 years), lower than the 60 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. Only 15% of sentences were within the gui
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Western District of Arkansas, FY2016–2025
11 people were sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 8 (73%) received a prison term, with a median of 13.5 months. All 11 pleaded guilty, and 73% of sentences were within the guideline range.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Western District of Arkansas, FY2016–2025
14 people were sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas in the "Stalking/Harassing" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 13 (93%) received a prison term, and the median was 25.1 months, or 2.1 years. For all 94 districts, the median was 24 months.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Western District of Arkansas, FY2016–2025
17 people were sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2023. 14 (82%) received a prison term, with a median of 16.5 months. All 17 cases had the same primary guideline, which covers counterfeit U.S. bearer obligations.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Western District of Arkansas, FY2016–2025
20 people were sentenced for robbery in the Western District of Arkansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 20 received a prison term. The median was 96 months, or 8 years. For all 94 federal districts, the median for robbery was 90 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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