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
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the District of New Mexico, FY2016–2025
In the District of New Mexico, 20 people were sentenced for national defense offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2025, and every one of them pleaded guilty. The median prison term was 12 months, compared with 24 months across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the District of New Mexico, FY2016–2025
All 48 people sentenced for kidnapping offenses in the District of New Mexico in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and the median was 120 months (10 years). In all 94 federal districts together, the median for this offense type was 155 months. The count is small, so the figures descr
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
54 people were sentenced for commercialized vice offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 32 (59%) received a prison term, with a median of 13.9 months, and 22 (41%) received probation only. 20 people (37%) were ordered to pay a fine.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
58 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 41 (71%) received a prison term, with a median of 12.8 months, and 14 (24%) received probation only. In all 94 districts, 66% of people in this category were sent to prison, with a median o
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
78 people were sentenced in the Southern District of California for offenses that the U.S. Sentencing Commission classes as "Other," in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 50 (64%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 0.1 months. 65% of sentences were within the guideline range, compared wi
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
106 people were sentenced for drug possession offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 72 (68%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 0 months. 94% of sentences were within the guideline range, compared with 15% for all offenses in this district.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
107 people were sentenced for robbery offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 103 (96%) received a prison term, with a median of 48 months (4 years), compared with 90 months for robbery cases in all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 88 people (82%).
Federal Assault Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
113 people were sentenced for assault offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 96 (85%) received a prison term, with a median of 4.5 months, compared with 42 months for assault cases in all 94 districts. 50% of sentences were within the guideline range.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
126 people were sentenced for environmental offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 66 (52%) received probation only, and 56 (44%) received a prison term, with a median of 2 months. In all 94 districts, 28% of people in this category were sent to prison.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
131 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 131 received a prison term. The median prison term was 108 months (9 years), lower than the 180 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 47% of the 131 people wer
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
187 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 149 (80%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months, which is the same median as for this offense type in all 94 districts. 44% of sentences were within the
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
231 people were sentenced in the Southern District of California for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 228 (99%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), lower than the 90 months for this offense type in all 94
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