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 Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
In the District of Arizona, 357 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 353 (99%) received a prison term, with a median of 102 months (8.5 years). The median for this offense type across all 94 federal districts was 180 months.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
In the District of Arizona, 407 people were sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 22 months, compared with 40 months across all 94 federal districts. Sentences were within the guideline range for 17%, and 62% were below it at the government's request
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
Of the 472 people sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the District of Arizona in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 316 (67%) received a prison term and 154 (33%) received probation only. The median prison term was 11 months, and 467 pleaded guilty.
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
In the District of Arizona, 990 people were sentenced for assault in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 30 months (2.5 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts. The median was 28 months after a guilty plea and 87 months after a trial.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
The District of Arizona sentenced 1,299 people for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 21 months, compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts. Only 30% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
In the District of Arizona, 1,441 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 3.2 months, compared with 20 months for this offense type across all 94 federal districts. Probation only was given to 322 people (22%).
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
The District of Arizona sentenced 3,021 people for drug possession in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 2,833 of them were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2019 alone. The median prison term was 6 months, and 3,020 pleaded guilty. A mandatory minimum applied to 0 of the 3,016 people with that informat
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
In the District of Arizona, 6,681 people were sentenced for drug trafficking in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 24 months. The median for this offense type across all 94 federal districts was 60 months. In Arizona, 77% of sentences were below the guideline range at the gove
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Arizona, FY2016–2025
Immigration cases were 65% of the 47,716 people sentenced in the District of Arizona in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 31,098 people sentenced for immigration offenses, 95% received a prison term, and the median was 8 months. More than 99% pleaded guilty.
Federal Arson Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to all 10 people sentenced for arson in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2017 to 2024. The median prison term was 87 months (7.2 years), and all 10 pleaded guilty. With only 10 people, these figures describe a small group and not a trend.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Texas sentenced 15 people for commercialized vice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. All 15 pleaded guilty and all 15 received a prison term, with a median of 30 months (2.5 years). The count is small, so the numbers describe a handful of cases and not a pattern.
Federal Arson Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
All 11 people sentenced for arson in the Southern District of Texas received a prison term, with a median of 60 months (5 years). The records cover fiscal years 2018 to 2023 for this offense type. A mandatory minimum applied to 8 of the 11 people (73%).
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.