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
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 63 people were sentenced under §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights." Of the 63, 49 (78%) were sent to prison, 14 (22%) received probation only, and 1 received a life sentence. The median prison term was 33 months (2.8 years).
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, 30 people were sentenced under §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights." The median prison term was 37.5 months (3.1 years), the highest median among fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 17% of sentences were within the guideline range.
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
In fiscal year 2020, 50 people were sentenced under §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights." A prison term was imposed on 42 (84%), and the median prison term was 36 months (3 years). That median was higher than the 27 months for all years from 2016 to 2025.
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
Fiscal year 2019 was the smallest year among fiscal years 2016 to 2025 for §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights," with 26 people sentenced. Of the 26, 22 (85%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 24.5 months (2 years). Guilty pleas were 88%, the highest share of any year
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
Fiscal year 2018 had 45 people sentenced under §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights." The median prison term was 27 months (2.2 years), and 33 people (73%) were sent to prison. The median was 12 months after a guilty plea and 60 months after a trial.
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, 54 people were sentenced under §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights." Only 33 (61%) received a prison term, and 11 (20%) received probation only. The median prison term was 24 months (2 years).
§2H1.1 Offenses Involving Individual Rights: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 46 people were sentenced in federal court in cases where §2H1.1, "Offenses Involving Individual Rights," was the primary guideline. Of the 46, 33 (72%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 30 months (2.5 years). The median was 24 months after a guilty plea and
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, 66 people were sentenced under §2E3.1, the largest count since fiscal year 2018 in the yearly table. The median prison term was 9 months, and 59% of sentences were within the guideline range. Restitution was ordered for 14 people (21%).
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
In fiscal year 2024, 41 people were sentenced under §2E3.1, and 56% were within the guideline range, higher than the 38% for all years. The median prison term was 18 months, and 22 people (54%) were sent to prison.
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 64 people were sentenced under §2E3.1, and 55 (86%) received a prison term. This was a higher prison share than the 57% for all years. The median prison term was 12 months, and all 64 people pleaded guilty.
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 39 people were sentenced under §2E3.1, and all 39 pleaded guilty. A fine was ordered for 23 of them (59%). The median prison term was 18 months.
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, 59 people were sentenced under §2E3.1. A prison term went to 29 (49%), and the median prison term was 12 months, the same as the median for all years. All but 1 person pleaded guilty, and 42% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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