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 Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Eastern District of New York, FY2016–2025
1,184 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Eastern District of New York in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 18% of the 6,411 people sentenced in the district. 801 (68%) received a prison term, and 334 (28%) received probation only. The median prison term was 13 months, c
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Eastern District of New York, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was 30% of the 6,411 people sentenced in the Eastern District of New York in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,903 people. The median prison term was 26 months, compared with 60 months for this offense type across all 94 federal districts. Only 14% of sentences were within the guideline
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
13 people were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for individual rights offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 8 (62%) received probation only, and 5 (38%) received a prison term. For all 94 districts, 68% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
19 people were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 15 (79%) received a prison term, compared with 96% for all 94 districts. The median prison term was 10 months, the same as the median for all districts.
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In the District of Puerto Rico, 86% of the 22 assault sentences with a recorded guideline range were within that range, compared with 48% for all 94 federal districts. 23 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 20 (87%) received a prison term with a median of 33 months.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
Of the 25 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of Puerto Rico in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 14 (56%) received probation only and 11 (44%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 12 months. For all 94 districts, 28% were sent to prison and the median was 5 months.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
All 34 people sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for obscenity and other sex offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty. 29 (85%) received a prison term, and the median was 18 months, the same as the median for all 94 districts. 41% of guilty pleas had no written plea agreement.
Federal Extortion and Racketeering Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
36 people were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for extortion and racketeering offenses, with sentences in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. 26 (72%) received a prison term, and the median was 24 months. For all 94 districts, 81% were sent to prison and the median was 30 months.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 70 people were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for bribery and corruption offenses. 50 (71%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months. 46% of sentences were below the guideline range at the government's request, and 31% were within the range.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In the District of Puerto Rico, 117 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 6.4 months, which is lower than the 12 months for all 94 federal districts. 85 people (73%) received a prison term, and 115 (98%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
All 157 people sentenced for murder offenses in the District of Puerto Rico in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and 18 received a life sentence. The median prison term was 240 months (20 years), the same as in all 94 federal districts. After a trial, the median was 470 months, compa
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 164 people were sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses, and 159 (97%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), lower than the 90 months for the same offense type in all 94 fed
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