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
21 U.S.C. 959, Possession, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substance: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 611 federal defendants had their cases end with 21 U.S.C. 959 as the most serious charge. Among the 493 convicted, the median prison term on that charge was 84 months (7 years), and 480 (97%) received a prison term. 480 (79%) pleaded guilty, 117 (19%) had their cases di
18 U.S.C. 1361, Government property or contracts: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Dismissals were common under 18 U.S.C. 1361: 286 of 634 federal defendants (45%) had their cases dismissed in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 331 (52%) pleaded guilty. Most of these charges were Class A misdemeanors (400, or 63%) rather than felonies (234, or 37%). Only 17 cases went to trial, and 3
18 U.S.C. 661, Within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Just 345 of 645 federal defendants (53%) charged under 18 U.S.C. 661 were convicted in cases that ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Nearly as many had their charges dismissed as pleaded guilty: 297 (46%) compared with 336 (52%). Most charges were Class A misdemeanors, and 155 of those convicted (4
18 U.S.C. 1959, Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the cases of 699 federal defendants ended with 18 U.S.C. 1959 as the most serious charge, and 124 of them (18%) went to trial. Only 3 of those 124 trials ended in an acquittal (2%). Of the 657 people convicted, 635 (97%) received a prison term on this charge, with a med
21 U.S.C. 856, Maintaining drug-involved premises: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 711 federal defendants had a most serious charge under 21 U.S.C. 856 when their cases ended. 646 (91%) pleaded guilty, 46 (6%) had their cases dismissed, and 19 (3%) went to trial, where 2 were acquitted. The median prison term was 41 months (3.4 years), and 522 of the
18 U.S.C. 1111, Murder: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Among 575 federal defendants convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1111 in cases that ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 568 (99%) received a prison term on that charge. The median term was 223 months (18.6 years), and 102 received life. Of all 714 defendants, 467 (65%) pleaded guilty, 125 (18%) had their case
19 U.S.C. 1459, Reporting requirements for individuals: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Almost every federal case under 19 U.S.C. 1459 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 was a Class A misdemeanor: 736 of 743 defendants (more than 99%). Of the 731 convicted, 723 (99%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median term of 7 months. Guilty pleas ended 723 cases (97%), and none of the 8 t
31 U.S.C. 5332, Bulk cash smuggling into or out of the United States: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 751 federal defendants had a case end with 31 U.S.C. 5332 as the most serious charge, and 692 of them (92%) pleaded guilty. Only 11 (1%) went to trial, and 3 of those trials ended in an acquittal. Of the 700 defendants convicted, 581 (83%) received a prison term on that
18 U.S.C. 2244, Abusive sexual contact: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 48 federal defendants charged mainly under 18 U.S.C. 2244 went to trial, and 14 of those trials (29%) ended in an acquittal. Trials were uncommon: 718 of the 816 defendants (88%) pleaded guilty. Overall, 752 (92%) were convicted, and the median prison term on this charg
18 U.S.C. 844, Penalties: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of the 864 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 18 U.S.C. 844, 706 (82%) pleaded guilty and 63 (7%) went to trial in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those 63 trials, 15 ended in an acquittal (24%). Among the 754 convicted, 710 (94%) received a prison term on t
18 U.S.C. 666, Theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal records list 890 defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 with 18 U.S.C. 666 as the most serious charge. 85% pleaded guilty, 8% had their charges dismissed, and 8% went to trial, where 13 of 67 trials (19%) ended in an acquittal. Of the 808 convicted, 72% received a prison t
18 U.S.C. 1542, False statement in application and use of passport: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Under 18 U.S.C. 1542, 749 of 892 federal defendants (84%) pleaded guilty in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and only 25 (3%) went to trial. Of the 771 people convicted, 606 (79%) were sentenced to a prison term on this charge. The median term was 10 months.
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.