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 Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $15,001 to $95,000, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, the median prison term for federal theft and fraud with a loss of $15,001 to $95,000 was 14 months. That median covers the 746 people (59%) who received prison out of 1,270 sentenced in the band. Across all fiscal years 2016 to 2025 in this band, the median prison term was 12 mo
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $15,001 to $95,000, Fiscal Year 2016
Federal courts sentenced 1,448 people in fiscal year 2016 for theft or fraud with a recorded loss between $15,001 and $95,000. Of them, 809 (56%) received a prison term, and the median term for that group was 12 months. The 29 people convicted at trial had a median prison term of 26 months, compared
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2025
Federal courts sentenced 238 people in fiscal year 2025 for theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000, the fewest of any year from 2016 to 2025. All but 2 pleaded guilty, and 93% of those guilty pleas came with a written plea agreement. Prison was ordered for 147 (62%), with a median prison te
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2024
In fiscal year 2024, 298 people were sentenced for federal theft or fraud with a loss from $1,001 to $15,000. A prison term was ordered for 181 (61%), and their median prison term was 6 months. The 8 people convicted at trial are a small group, and the 5 of them sent to prison had a median term of 6
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2023
Of the 354 people sentenced in fiscal year 2023 for federal theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000, 69% (246) received a sentence within the guideline range and 15% (53) received one below it without a government request. Prison was ordered for 212 (60%). The median prison term was 7 months
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, the median prison term for federal theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000 was 12 months, the highest yearly median in this band from 2016 to 2025. Of the 350 people sentenced, 221 (63%) went to prison. Probation only was ordered for 103 (29%).
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2021
In fiscal year 2021, federal courts sentenced 342 people for theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000. Restitution was ordered for 272 (80%), and a fine for 45 (13%). Prison was ordered for 179 (52%), with a median prison term of 8.6 months.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2020
The median prison term for federal theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000 was 6 months in fiscal year 2020. That year, 380 people were sentenced in this band, and 205 of them (54%) received a prison term. A quarter of those prison terms were 0.5 months or less.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2019
In fiscal year 2019, a mandatory minimum prison term applied to 75 of the 498 people (15%) sentenced for federal theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000. Prison was ordered for 289 (58%), and the median prison term was 7.8 months. A quarter of those sent to prison received 24 months or more.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2018
Federal judges sentenced 506 people for theft or fraud with losses of $1,001 to $15,000 in fiscal year 2018. Of these, 73% (368) received a sentence within the guideline range, and 277 (55%) were sent to prison. The median prison term was 8.8 months.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2017
In fiscal year 2017, 602 people were sentenced for federal theft or fraud with a loss between $1,001 and $15,000, and 297 of them (49%) went to prison. Their median prison term was 8 months. The 15 people convicted at trial had a median of 28 months, compared with 7.7 months after a guilty plea.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, Fiscal Year 2016
In fiscal year 2016, 702 people were sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a dollar loss of $1,001 to $15,000. More of them received probation only (345, or 49%) than a prison term (292, or 42%). For those sent to prison, the median prison term was 7 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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