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
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Federal courts sentenced 122 people in fiscal year 2024 with §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison," as the primary guideline. 108 (89%) were sent to prison and 12 (10%) received probation only. The median prison term was 12 months.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 97 people were sentenced in federal court under §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison." 51% were sentenced within the guideline range, and 34% were sentenced below it at the government's request. The median prison term was 12 months.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
Of the 144 people sentenced under §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison," in fiscal year 2022, 11 (8%) received probation only. 132 (92%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 6 months. 141 (98%) pleaded guilty.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
Under §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison," 198 people were sentenced in federal court in fiscal year 2021. Of those, 184 (93%) received prison, and the median prison term was 6 months. 195 (98%) pleaded guilty, and 62% of the guilty pleas had no written plea agreement.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
In fiscal year 2020, 162 people were sentenced in federal court under §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison." The median prison term was 7.4 months. 59% were sentenced within the guideline range, which is a lower share than in the years on either side of 2020.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
Fiscal year 2019 had 250 sentencings in federal court under §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison." 234 people (94%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 6 months, and 244 (98%) pleaded guilty. Most guilty pleas in this group were straight pleas with no written agreement
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
In fiscal year 2018, 206 people were sentenced in federal court with §2P1.2, "Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison," as the primary guideline. Of those, 197 (96%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 12 months. 199 of the 206 (97%) pleaded guilty.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
Only 3 of the 133 people sentenced under §2P1.2 in fiscal year 2017 (2%) received probation only. 125 (94%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 8 months, lower than the 12 months in fiscal year 2016.
§2P1.2 Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 107 of the 119 people sentenced under §2P1.2 (90%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months. 72 people (61%) were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2A6.1 Threatening or Harassing Communications: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, the median prison term under §2A6.1 was 21 months after a guilty plea and 12 months after a trial. The trial figure rests on 11 people, and 188 people were sentenced under the guideline in all.
§2A6.1 Threatening or Harassing Communications: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
176 people were sentenced under §2A6.1 in fiscal year 2024. 158 (90%) received a prison term, the median prison term was 20 months, and restitution was ordered for 23 people (13%).
§2A6.1 Threatening or Harassing Communications: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 146 of the 163 people sentenced under §2A6.1 (90%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 18 months, and 78 people (48%) 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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