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
18 U.S.C. 4082, Commitment to Attorney General; residential treatment centers; extension of limits of confinement; work furlough: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 142 federal defendants had a case end with 18 U.S.C. 4082 as the most serious charge, and 131 of them (92%) were convicted. Nearly all of those convicted, 129 (98%), received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 10 months. Only 3 cases went to trial, an
18 U.S.C. 1920, False statement or fraud to obtain Federal employees’ compensation: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Over fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 144 federal defendants had a case end with 18 U.S.C. 1920 as the most serious charge, and 82 of them (57%) faced it as a Class A misdemeanor rather than a felony. Of the 135 convicted, 8 (6%) received a prison term on that charge. Guilty pleas ended 134 cases (93%), a
49 U.S.C. 46504, Interference with flight crew members and attendants: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
For federal defendants whose most serious charge fell under 49 U.S.C. 46504, 107 of 144 defendants (74%) pleaded guilty, and 24 (17%) had their charges dismissed. Of the 13 trials, 8 ended in an acquittal (62%). Of the 112 convicted, 81 (72%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 7
18 U.S.C. 912, Officer or employee of the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal cases under 18 U.S.C. 912 that ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 involved 147 defendants, and 132 (90%) were convicted. A prison term on this charge was recorded for 81 of the 132 (61%), with a median of 12 months among terms of 1 month or more. Of 13 trials, 2 ended in an acquittal (15%).
18 U.S.C. 1038, False information and hoaxes: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of the 129 federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1038 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 102 (79%) received a prison term on that charge. The median term was 20 months. In all, 149 defendants had a case end with this section as the most serious charge, and 85% of them pleaded guilty.
18 U.S.C. 1040, Fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Dismissals ended 59 of the 153 federal cases (39%) in which 18 U.S.C. 1040 was the most serious charge at the end of the case, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Another 91 (59%) pleaded guilty and 3 (2%) went to trial. Of the 93 people convicted, 84 (90%) received a prison term on that charge, with a me
18 U.S.C. 1513, Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal trials under 18 U.S.C. 1513 ended in an acquittal in 14 of 30 cases (47%) over fiscal years 2016 to 2025. That count covers 155 defendants whose most serious charge was under this section when the case ended. Of those 155, 121 were convicted (78%), and the median prison term on this charge w
7 U.S.C. 2156, Animal fighting venture prohibition: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal courts closed the cases of 162 defendants charged most seriously under 7 U.S.C. 2156 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 148 of them (91%) were convicted. Felonies made up 116 of the charges (72%), and Class A misdemeanors made up 46 (28%). Of those convicted, 94 (64%) received a prison term o
18 U.S.C. 2118, Robberies and burglaries involving controlled substances: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Almost all of the 162 federal defendants whose cases under 18 U.S.C. 2118 ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty: 159, or 98%. Of those 159 convicted, 149 (94%) received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 40.5 months (3.4 years). Only 1 case went to trial, and it ended
18 U.S.C. 933, Trafficking in firearms: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2023–2025
Nearly every federal case under 18 U.S.C. 933 ended in a guilty plea. Of 163 defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2023 to 2025, 156 (96%) pleaded guilty, 6 (4%) had their cases dismissed, and 1 went to trial. Among the 156 convicted, 152 (97%) received a prison term on that charge, with a me
18 U.S.C. 659, Interstate or foreign shipments by carrier; State prosecutions: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 166 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was 18 U.S.C. 659, 9 went to trial, and 6 of those 9 trials ended in an acquittal. The other cases mostly ended in guilty pleas (87%), and 7% were dismissed. Among the 148 convicted, 119 (80%) received a prison term on that c
18 U.S.C. 117, Domestic assault by an habitual offender: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 176 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 18 U.S.C. 117, 169 (96%) were convicted, almost all by guilty plea. Nearly every conviction brought a prison term: 166 of the 169 (98%) received one on that charge, and the median term was 34 months (2.8 years). On
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