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 Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
80 people were sentenced for murder offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 288 months (24 years), and 19 people received a life sentence. 81% pleaded guilty, which is higher than the 78% for all 94 districts.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
93 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 61% received a prison term and 34% received probation only. For 51% (47), the sentence was below the guideline range without a government request.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
135 people were sentenced for Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 135 pleaded guilty. 93% received a prison term, and the median was 21 months. The most common primary guideline was §2A3.5 (Failure to Register as a Sex Offender), with 1
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
183 people were sentenced for robbery in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 97% received a prison term, and the median was 78 months (6.5 years). The median prison term for robbery in all 94 districts was 90 months.
Federal Assault Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
194 people were sentenced for assault offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term after a guilty plea was 47 months, and after a trial it was 87 months. Overall, 75% received a prison term.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
All 250 people sentenced for prison offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty, and 0 were convicted after a trial. 245 (98%) received a prison term, with a median of 11 months.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
264 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 98% received a prison term, with a median of 210 months (17.5 years). A mandatory minimum applied to 207 of the 262 people with that information recorded (79%).
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
Of the 300 people sentenced for drug possession in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 170 (57%) received probation only and 127 (42%) received a prison term. Among those sent to prison, the median prison term was 0.8 months. The number sentenced each year fell from 86 in fis
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
389 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 98% received a prison term, and the median was 97 months. The median in all 94 districts was 90 months.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
421 people were sentenced for money laundering in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 85% received a prison term, and the median was 30 months. The median prison term for these cases in all 94 districts was 40 months.
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
462 people were sentenced for National Defense offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 0.1 months, which is much lower than the 24 months for all 94 districts. The yearly table shows that 252 of the 462 were sentenced in fiscal year 2025.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Western District of Texas, FY2016–2025
488 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the Western District of Texas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 75% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 12 months, the same as in all 94 districts. 98% pleaded guilty.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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