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 Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
All 168 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the District of Puerto Rico in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 151 months (12.6 years), lower than the 180 months for the same offense type in all 94 federal districts. A mandatory minimum applied to 152 of the 16
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
The District of Puerto Rico sentenced 272 people for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 216 (79%) received prison, with a median of 36 months, and 48 (18%) received probation only. The median for money laundering in all 94 federal districts was 40 months, and 38% of sentences h
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 479 people were sentenced for robbery in the District of Puerto Rico, and 471 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 101 months (8.4 years), higher than the 60 months for all offenses in this district but lower than the 90 months for robbery in all 94
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
Probation only was the most common result for fraud, theft, and embezzlement in the District of Puerto Rico. Of the 730 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 433 (59%) received probation only and 268 (37%) received prison. The median prison term was 15 months, compared with 20 months in all
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
The District of Puerto Rico sentenced 1,155 people for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 991 (86%) received prison, with a median prison term of 7.8 months, and 163 (14%) received probation only. A sentence within the guideline range applied to 851 people (74%), and all bu
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
In the District of Puerto Rico, 1,595 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 1,534 (96%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 33 months (2.8 years), lower than the 42 months for firearms cases in all 94 federal districts. Sentences within the guid
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Puerto Rico, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 48% of the 9,794 people sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 4,670 people. Of those, 4,534 (97%) received prison, and the median prison term was 70 months (5.8 years). A mandatory minimum applied to 4,089 of the 4,662 people with that inform
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
31 people were sentenced under guideline §2B1.4, Insider Trading, in fiscal year 2018. 21 of them (68%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 12 months. Only 1 sentence (3%) was within the guideline range.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
5 of the 11 people sentenced under guideline §2B1.4, Insider Trading, in fiscal year 2017 were convicted after a trial, and 6 (55%) pleaded guilty. The plea rate was lower than the 83% for all years under this guideline. The median prison term was 13 months overall.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
16 of the 18 people sentenced under guideline §2B1.4, Insider Trading, in fiscal year 2016 (89%) received a prison term, and none received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months. 17 of the 18 (94%) pleaded guilty.
§2E4.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
22 people were sentenced under guideline §2E4.1 in fiscal year 2024. 11 (50%) received a prison term with a median of 6 months, and 11 (50%) received probation only. 22 of 22 (100%) pleaded guilty, and 12 sentences (55%) were below the guideline range at the government's request.
§2E4.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
None of the 11 people sentenced under guideline §2E4.1 in fiscal year 2023 received a sentence within the guideline range (0%). 10 sentences (91%) were below the range at the government's request. 6 people (55%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 31 months (2.6 years).
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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