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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.

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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.

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Latest Analysis

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024

    Of the 84 people sentenced under §2K1.4 in fiscal year 2024, 16 (19%) received a sentence above the guideline range, and 34 (40%) were within it. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), and 81 people (96%) were sentenced to prison.

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023

    The U.S. Sentencing Commission recorded 105 people sentenced under §2K1.4 in fiscal year 2023. 101 (96%) received a prison term, with a median of 60 months (5 years), and 103 (98%) pleaded guilty. 2 people were convicted after a trial.

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022

    In fiscal year 2022, 103 people were sentenced under §2K1.4, more than the 78 in fiscal year 2021. 97 of them (94%) received a prison term, 5 (5%) received probation only, and the median prison term was 51 months (4.2 years).

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021

    Almost every person sentenced under §2K1.4 in fiscal year 2021 pleaded guilty: 76 of 78 (97%). The median prison term was 48 months (4 years), lower than the 60 months for this guideline across fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 2 people were convicted after a trial.

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020

    In fiscal year 2020, 47 people were sentenced under §2K1.4, and 45 of them (96%) went to prison for a median of 60 months. The median after a trial was 180 months, but that rests on only 7 people. A mandatory minimum applied to 31 of the 47 (66%).

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019

    A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 35 of the 66 people (53%) sentenced under §2K1.4 in fiscal year 2019, and 34 of them (52%) received a sentence within the guideline range. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), the same as for this guideline across fiscal years 2016 to 2025.

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018

    In fiscal year 2018, 52 people were sentenced in federal court with §2K1.4 as the primary guideline. Of those, 50 (96%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 58.5 months (4.9 years). That median is lower than the 60 months for this guideline across fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and hig

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017

    In fiscal year 2017, restitution was ordered for 43 of the 53 people (81%) sentenced in federal court with §2K1.4, "Arson," as the primary guideline, and a fine for none. Prison went to 49 (92%), with a median prison term of 60 months (5 years). Sentences within the guideline range were 38%.

  • §2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016

    A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 38 of the 63 people (60%) sentenced in fiscal year 2016 with §2K1.4, "Arson," as the primary guideline. Prison went to 59 (94%), and the median prison term was 48 months (4 years). Of the 63, 58 (92%) pleaded guilty.

  • §2A2.3 Assault: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025

    The 47 people sentenced in fiscal year 2025 under §2A2.3, "Assault," are the smallest yearly count in the 2016 to 2025 table. Prison went to 25 (53%), and the median prison term was 6 months. Sentences within the guideline range were 66%.

  • §2A2.3 Assault: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024

    In fiscal year 2024, 92% of the 51 people sentenced under §2A2.3, "Assault," pleaded guilty, the lowest plea rate in the 2016 to 2025 table. A total of 4 were convicted after a trial. Prison went to 34 (67%), and the median prison term was 6 months.

  • §2A2.3 Assault: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023

    In fiscal year 2023, 62 people were sentenced in federal court under §2A2.3, "Assault," as the primary guideline. Prison went to 33 (53%), and the median prison term was 6.3 months. Of the 62, 59 (95%) pleaded guilty, and 3 were convicted after a trial.

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