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 Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Texas, 98 people were sentenced under the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 74 of them had failure to register as a sex offender as the primary guideline. The median prison term was 18 months, the same as the national media
Federal Assault Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Southern District of Texas sentenced 113 people for assault offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 58.5 months (4.9 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 districts. Fiscal year 2025 had 26 people, more than any earlier year.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
Of the 162 people sentenced for bribery or corruption in the Southern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 75% received a prison term and 20% received probation only. The median prison term was 18 months, the same as the national median. Only 31% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Texas, 175 people were sentenced in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's "Prison Offenses" category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 175 pleaded guilty. The median prison term was 10.9 months, compared with 10 months across all districts.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
All 312 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Southern District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 200 months (16.7 years), and 11 people received a life sentence. A mandatory minimum applied to 77% of the people with that information recorded.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Southern District of Texas sentenced 328 people for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 12 months, the same as the national median for this offense type. Most cases, 237, used the guideline for obstructing or impeding officers.
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Texas, 453 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 97 months (8.1 years). Supervised release after prison had a median term of 120 months, and 67 people received it for li
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Southern District of Texas sentenced 500 people for national defense offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 481 of them had an arms export guideline as the primary guideline. The median prison term was 25 months (2.1 years). No mandatory minimum applied to any of the 499 people with that inf
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Texas, 531 people were sentenced for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 120 months (10 years), compared with 90 months across all districts. The median after a trial was 346 months, based on 21 people.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Southern District of Texas sentenced 743 people for money laundering offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Their median prison term was 24 months (2 years), compared with 40 months across all 94 districts. After a trial, the median was 120.5 months.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Texas, 1,604 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 83% received a prison term and 14% received probation only. The median prison term was 15 months, compared with 20 months across all districts.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Southern District of Texas, FY2016–2025
The Southern District of Texas sentenced 2,252 people for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Their median prison term was 30 months (2.5 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 districts. Firearms cases were 3% of the district's 71,026 sentenced people.
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