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 Murder Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
Only 18% of the 67 murder sentences in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 were within the guideline range, and 60% were below the range at the government's request. All 67 people received a prison term, with a median of 235 months (19.6 years). 7 received a life sentence.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
Immigration offenses were 3% of the 3,085 people sentenced in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 82 people. Of those, 81 (99%) received a prison term, and the median was 10 months. Across all 94 federal districts, the median for immigration offenses was 7 months.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for the 87 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 was 211 months (17.6 years). The median for all 94 federal districts was 180 months. All 87 received a prison term, and a mandatory minimum applied to 80 peop
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
All 91 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, with a median of 91 months (7.6 years). The median for all 94 federal districts was 90 months. 43% of sentences were within the guidel
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for robbery in the Northern District of Indiana was 92 months (7.7 years), about the same as the 90 months for robbery in all 94 federal districts. Of the 119 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 117 (98%) received a prison term. A mandatory minimum applied to 50 peo
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
Of 428 people sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 249 (58%) received a prison term and 139 (32%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts, 73% were sent to prison. Restitution was ordered for 362 people (85%).
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 506 of the 872 people with that information recorded (58%) among the 874 people sentenced for drug trafficking in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 77.5 months (6.5 years), compared with 60 months acro
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Northern District of Indiana, FY2016–2025
Firearms offenses were 37% of the 3,085 people sentenced in the Northern District of Indiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,141 people. Of those, 1,005 (88%) received a prison term, and the median was 37 months (3.1 years). The median for firearms cases in all 94 federal districts was 42 months.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Southern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
All 12 people sentenced for murder in the Southern District of Illinois received a prison term, with a median of 461.5 months (38.5 years). In all 94 federal districts together, the median for this offense type was 240 months. 5 of the 12 received a life sentence, and 4 were convicted after a trial.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Southern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
16 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in the Southern District of Illinois in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 14 (88%) received a prison term, with a median of 16.5 months, compared with 24 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts together. All 16 pleaded guilty.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
Of the 17 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the Southern District of Illinois in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 1 (6%) received a prison term and 13 (76%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts together, 28% of people in this offense type were sent to prison. All 17 pleaded gu
Federal Assault Sentences in the Southern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
The Commission counted 17 people sentenced for assault in the Southern District of Illinois in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 16 of them (94%) received a prison term, with a median of 53 months (4.4 years). That is higher than the 42 months for assault in all 94 federal districts together. 41% of the pe
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