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 Child Pornography Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Florida, 372 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 371 received a prison term, with a median of 82 months. The median for all 94 federal districts was 90 months.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
Nearly everyone sentenced for robbery in the Southern District of Florida in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term: 637 of 638 people. The median prison term was 90 months (7.5 years), the same as the median for all 94 federal districts in this offense type.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Florida, 658 people were sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 36 months. In all 94 federal districts, the median was 40 months. Sentences within the guideline range were 33% here and 25% nationally.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
Of the 1,590 people sentenced for firearms offenses in the Southern District of Florida in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 96% received a prison term, with a median of 51 months. In all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 42 months.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Florida, 3,812 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, and embezzlement offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 87% received a prison term, with a median of 29 months. In all 94 federal districts, 73% were sent to prison, with a median of 20 months.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for immigration offenses in the Southern District of Florida was 2.6 months in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 4,114 people were sentenced, and 97% of them received a prison term. The median for all 94 federal districts in this offense type was 7 months.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Southern District of Florida, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking cases were 25% of the 17,081 people sentenced in the Southern District of Florida in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 4,330 people. 98% of them received a prison term, with a median of 70 months. The median for all 94 federal districts in this offense type was 60 months.
§2A1.1 First Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
In fiscal year 2025, the median prison term for the 258 of 259 people sentenced to prison in federal court under §2A1.1 was 360 months (30 years). 72 people received a life sentence. After a guilty plea the median was 292 months, and after a trial it was 470 months.
§2A1.1 First Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
Fiscal year 2024 had 344 people sentenced in federal court under §2A1.1, a count higher than any other year in the table from 2016 to 2025. 102 received a life sentence. The median prison term was 324 months (27 years).
§2A1.1 First Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, 338 people were sentenced in federal court under §2A1.1, and 100 of them received a life sentence. All 338 received a prison term, and the median was 313.1 months (26.1 years). It may be too early to say whether this year is part of a longer pattern.
§2A1.1 First Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 286 people were sentenced in federal court under §2A1.1, and 29% of sentences (84 people) were within the guideline range. A sentence below the range at the government's request was given to 142 people (50%). The median prison term was 264 months (22 years).
§2A1.1 First Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, 176 people were sentenced in federal court under §2A1.1, and 147 of them (84%) pleaded guilty. All 176 received a prison term, with a median of 246 months (20.5 years). 23 people received a life sentence.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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