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. 115, Influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a Federal official by threatening or injuring a family member: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 36 of the 368 federal defendants (10%) whose most serious charge at the end of the case was under 18 U.S.C. 115 went to trial, and 11 of those 36 trials (31%) ended in an acquittal. Most others pleaded guilty: 256 (70%). Among the 281 convicted, 253 (90%) received a pri
18 U.S.C. 2320, Trafficking in counterfeit goods or services: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 322 defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 2320 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 188 (58%) received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 15 months. In all, 389 defendants had a case end under this section: 80% pleaded guilty, 16% had the charges dismissed, and 13 went to trial. Of the
18 U.S.C. 471, Obligations or securities of United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 471 who received a prison term of 1 month or more had a median term of 24 months (2 years). That figure covers cases that ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of 392 defendants in that period, 369 (94%) pleaded guilty, 19 (5%) had their cases dismissed, an
18 U.S.C. 1543, Forgery or false use of passport: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Nearly every federal case under 18 U.S.C. 1543 ended in a guilty plea: 386 of 394 defendants (98%) in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 2 went to trial, and neither ended in an acquittal. Of the 388 convicted, 334 (86%) were sentenced to a prison term on this charge, with a median of 10.5 months.
31 U.S.C. 5324, Structuring transactions to evade reporting requirement prohibited: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 414 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 31 U.S.C. 5324, 339 (82%) pleaded guilty, 63 (15%) had the charges dismissed, and 12 (3%) went to trial. These cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Among the 350 convicted, 193 (55%) received a prison term on
40 U.S.C. 5104, Unlawful activities: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2021–2025
Federal cases under 40 U.S.C. 5104 ended mostly in guilty pleas: 315 of 417 defendants (76%) in fiscal years 2021 to 2025. Every one of the 417 charges was a Class A misdemeanor. Of the 329 people convicted, 94 (29%) received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 1 month.
18 U.S.C. 1153, Offenses committed within Indian country: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal courts closed 444 cases under 18 U.S.C. 1153 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 410 of those defendants (92%) were convicted. Most convictions came from guilty pleas: 392 defendants (88%) pleaded guilty, while 23 (5%) went to trial and 5 of those trials ended in an acquittal (22%). The median
18 U.S.C. 242, Deprivation of rights under color of law: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal trials under 18 U.S.C. 242 ended in an acquittal 41% of the time in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 44 of 108 trials. Most of the 450 defendants did not go to trial. 300 (67%) pleaded guilty, and 364 (81%) were convicted in all.
18 U.S.C. 2243, Sexual abuse of a minor, a ward, or an individual in Federal custody: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of the 454 federal defendants whose most serious charge was under 18 U.S.C. 2243 and whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 424 (93%) were convicted. Nearly all of them, 412 (91%), pleaded guilty. Only 13 went to trial, and 1 of those trials ended in an acquittal.
18 U.S.C. 1030, Fraud and related activity in connection with computers: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Not every charge under 18 U.S.C. 1030 was a felony: of 480 federal defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 73 (15%) faced it as a Class A misdemeanor. Of the 406 convicted, 241 (59%) received a prison term on the charge, with a median of 18 months. Trials ended 26 cases, and 3 of
18 U.S.C. 287, False, fictitious or fraudulent claims: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 486 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was under 18 U.S.C. 287 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 441 (91%) were convicted. Most pleaded guilty: 418 (86%). Of the convicted, 288 (65%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 24 months.
18 U.S.C. 545, Smuggling goods into the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 496 federal defendants had a case end with a most serious charge under 18 U.S.C. 545. Most pleaded guilty: 430 (87%). Only 10 went to trial, and 5 of those trials ended in an acquittal (50%).
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