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 Prison Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
285 people were sentenced for prison offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 278 (98%) received a prison term, and the median was 4 months, lower than the 10 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 43% of sentences were within the guideline range.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
442 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 419 (95%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 24 months (2 years), lower than the 42 months for firearms cases in all 94 districts. 17% of sentences were within the
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
776 people were sentenced for money laundering offenses in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 717 (92%) received a prison term, with a median of 15 months. In all 94 districts, the median for this offense type was 40 months.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
1,181 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 954 (81%) received a prison term, with a median of 9 months, compared with 20 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. 49% of sentences were within the guidelin
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
13,287 people were sentenced for drug trafficking in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 98% of them received a prison term. The median prison term was 30 months, which is lower than the 60 months for drug trafficking cases in all 94 districts. 93% of sentences were
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Southern District of California, FY2016–2025
Immigration offenses were 46% of the 32,099 people sentenced in the Southern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. That is 14,718 people, and 96% of them received a prison term, with a median of 6.4 months. Only 21% of sentences were within the guideline range, compared with 62% for i
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
11 people were sentenced in the District of Arizona for individual rights offenses in fiscal years 2018 to 2025, and 7 of them (64%) received probation only. 4 (36%) received a prison term, with a median of 31.5 months. In all 94 districts, 68% of people in this category were sent to prison.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
15 people were sentenced in the District of Arizona for bribery or corruption offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 12 (80%) received a prison term, with a median of 20.1 months, and only 2 sentences (13%) were within the guideline range. In all 94 districts, 21% of sentences in this category were
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
Of 15 people sentenced in the District of Arizona for environmental offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 13 (87%) received probation only and 2 (13%) received a prison term. In all 94 districts, 28% of people in this category were sent to prison. All 15 pleaded guilty.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
17 people were sentenced in the District of Arizona for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 12 (71%) received a prison term, with a median of 12.5 months, and 5 (29%) received probation only. The median was lower than the 17.6 months for this offense type in
Federal Arson Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
19 people were sentenced in the District of Arizona for arson offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 19 received a prison term. The median prison term was 36 months (3 years), lower than the 60 months for arson cases in all 94 federal districts. 13 of the 19 people were sentenced in fiscal y
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
25 people were sentenced in the District of Arizona for burglary or trespass offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 21 (84%) received a prison term, with a median of 21 months, and all 25 pleaded guilty. 40% of sentences were within the guideline range, compared with 63% for this offense type in all
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
Get the free newsletter.
Clips, audiograms and the opening of every issue, free.