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
§2X5.2 Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
Of the 189 people sentenced in fiscal year 2018 under §2X5.2, "Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline)," 183 (97%) pleaded guilty and 6 were convicted after a trial. 105 (56%) received probation only, and 70 (37%) received a prison term with a median of 3 months.
§2X5.2 Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
The median prison term under §2X5.2, "Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline)," was 1.5 months in fiscal year 2017. 169 people were sentenced, 109 (64%) received probation only, and 51 (30%) received a prison term.
§2X5.2 Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline): Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 177 people were sentenced under §2X5.2, "Class A Misdemeanors (Not Covered by Another Specific Offense Guideline)." 101 (57%) received probation only, and 61 (34%) received a prison term with a median of 5 months. 162 people (92%) were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, 43 of the 203 people sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," (21%) received probation only. 146 (72%) received a prison term, with a median of 15.5 months. Restitution was ordered for 92 people (45%).
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," 220 people were sentenced in fiscal year 2024, and the median prison term was 16.5 months. After a guilty plea the median was 12 months, and after a trial it was 27 months. 180 people (82%) received a prison term.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 226 people were sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," and 192 (85%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 22.1 months. No one in the group was subject to a mandatory minimum, according to the 226 records with that information.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 213 people were sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe." The largest group, 90 people (42%), received a sentence below the guideline range without a government request. The median prison term was 22 months, and 177 people (83%) received a pri
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, 13 of the 143 people sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," were convicted after a trial, and their median prison term was 60 months. The median after a guilty plea was 21.5 months. Overall, 111 people (78%) received a prison term.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
Fiscal year 2020 had 139 people sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," which is fewer than any other year in the table. 93 (67%) received a prison term, the median prison term was 14 months, and 13 people (9%) were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, 39 of the 245 people sentenced under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," (16%) received probation only. 188 (77%) received a prison term, with a median of 21 months. 40 people (16%) were sentenced within the guideline range.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2018
The median prison term under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," was 18.9 months in fiscal year 2018. 204 people were sentenced, and 174 (85%) received a prison term. 189 (93%) pleaded guilty, and 15 were convicted after a trial.
§2C1.1 Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, the median prison term under §2C1.1, "Offering, Giving, Soliciting, or Receiving a Bribe," was 18 months after a guilty plea and 54 months after a trial. 205 people were sentenced, 189 (92%) pleaded guilty, and 16 were convicted after a trial. Overall, 155 people (76%) received
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