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
§2L1.1 Smuggling, Transporting, or Harboring an Unlawful Alien: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 44% of the 2,423 people sentenced under §2L1.1 received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request, and 43% were sentenced within the range. The median prison term was 13 months. Guilty pleas made up 99% of the cases.
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2025
Fiscal year 2025 is the latest year in the Commission's data for §2K2.1 firearms cases. A total of 7,706 people were sentenced, and the median prison term was 42 months, or 3.5 years. For everyone sentenced in federal court that year, the median was 24 months.
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2024
In fiscal year 2024, the median prison term under §2K2.1 was 41 months for the people sent to prison, which is higher than the 30-month median for everyone sentenced in federal court that year. The Commission counted 7,742 people under this guideline. Of them, 50% were sentenced within the guideline
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2023
Among the 7,846 people sent to prison under §2K2.1 in fiscal year 2023, the median prison term was 41 months, and a quarter received 70 months or more. The Commission counted 8,393 people sentenced under this guideline that year. The median was 96 months after a trial and 41 months after a guilty pl
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, 8,875 people were sentenced under §2K2.1, the highest yearly count in the table below for this firearms guideline. The median prison term was 40 months, and 97% of the people sentenced had pleaded guilty. The median prison term after a trial was 84 months.
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2021
Federal courts sentenced 7,735 people in fiscal year 2021 in cases where §2K2.1 was the primary guideline. The median prison term for the 7,287 people sent to prison (94%) was 37 months. Sentences were within the guideline range for 49%, and 18% were below it at the government's request.
§2K2.1 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition: Federal Sentences, Fiscal Year 2020
In fiscal year 2020, 7,091 people were sentenced in federal court with §2K2.1 as the primary guideline. Of the 6,655 who received a prison term (94%), the median was 37 months. The median was 91 months for the 218 people convicted at trial and sent to prison, and 37 months after a guilty plea.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
15 people were sentenced for environmental offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 7 (47%) received a prison term, with a median of 5 months, and 7 (47%) received probation only. This is a very small group, so the percentages move with each person.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
All 42 people sentenced for kidnapping in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 147 months (12.2 years). 48% (20) were sentenced below the guideline range at the government's request.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
50 people were sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 92% received a prison term, with a median of 21.9 months. The median after a trial was 60 months, based on 7 people.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
58 people were sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. 76% received a prison term, and the median was 21 months. 41 of the 58 were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2019.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
69 people were sentenced for bribery and corruption offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 74% received a prison term, with a median of 30 months. 49% (34) were sentenced below the guideline range at the government's request.
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.