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
§2B5.3 Criminal Infringement of Copyright or Trademark: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 84 people were sentenced in federal court with §2B5.3 as the primary guideline. 44 (52%) received a prison term with a median of 16 months, and 24 (29%) received probation only. Restitution was ordered for 57 people (68%).
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
Fiscal year 2025 had 10 people sentenced with §2E1.1 as the primary guideline, the smallest yearly group in the table. All 10 received a prison term, and the median was 25.5 months. 9 pleaded guilty and 1 was convicted after a trial.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Of the 22 people sentenced in fiscal year 2024 with §2E1.1 as the primary guideline, 15 (68%) received a prison term and 6 (27%) received probation only. Only 3 (14%) were sentenced within the guideline range. The group is small, so the figures describe this year and do not show a trend.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 47 people were sentenced with §2E1.1 as the primary guideline. 39 (83%) received a prison term, 7 (15%) received probation only, and the median prison term was 24 months. 5 people were convicted after a trial.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 48 people were sentenced under §2E1.1. 46 of them (96%) received a prison term, and the median was 24 months. 33% were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
All 31 people sentenced in fiscal year 2021 with §2E1.1 as the primary guideline pleaded guilty. 30 of them (97%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months. 42% were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
In fiscal year 2020, 25 people were sentenced in federal court with §2E1.1 as the primary guideline. 23 of them (92%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 30 months. Among the 4 people convicted after a trial, the median prison term was 60 months, compared with 27 months after a gu
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 62 people were sentenced under §2E1.1, "Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations." The median prison term was 33 months (2.8 years), the highest median among fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A prison term went to 59 people (95%).
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
Fiscal year 2018 had 142 people sentenced under §2E1.1, "Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations," the largest count of any year from 2016 to 2025. Of the 142, 137 (96%) received a prison term, and the median was 28 months (2.3 years).
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, 68 people were sentenced under §2E1.1, "Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations." A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 7 of them (10%). The median prison term was 24 months, and 57 people (84%) were sent to prison.
§2E1.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 56 people were sentenced in federal court under §2E1.1, "Unlawful Conduct Relating to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations." All 56 (100%) pleaded guilty. A prison term went to 42 (75%), and the median prison term was 24 months (2 years).
§2D2.2 Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Forgery, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
Fiscal year 2025 had 25 people sentenced under §2D2.2, the smallest count of any year from 2016 to 2025. The guideline is titled "Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Forgery, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge; Attempt or Conspiracy." Of the 25, 7 (28%) went to prison for a median of 3 months, and 14 (
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
Get the free newsletter.
Clips, audiograms and the opening of every issue, free.