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
Sexual Abuse of an Adult Sentences in 2018: Federal Court vs. Courts-Martial
Courts-martial produced 89 convictions for sexual abuse of an adult with trial dates in 2018, while 41 people were sentenced for this kind of offense in federal court in fiscal year 2018. The median court-martial confinement was 38.4 months. The median federal prison term was 60 months, the lowest y
Sexual Abuse of an Adult Sentences in 2017: Federal Court vs. Courts-Martial
Federal prison terms for sexual abuse of an adult were longer than court-martial confinement in this year: a median of 70 months for 58 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal year 2017, against 44.9 months for 89 court-martial convictions with 2017 trial dates. At the top end the gap was smalle
Sexual Abuse of an Adult Sentences in 2016: Federal Court vs. Courts-Martial
In 2016, the median confinement in 41 court-martial convictions for sexual abuse of an adult was 27 months. In federal court in fiscal year 2016, 63 people were sentenced for this type of offense, and the median prison term was 70 months. Only 32% of the court-martial convictions with a plea recorde
Drug Use Sentences in 2021: Federal Court vs. Courts-Martial
In federal fiscal year 2021, the median prison term for simple possession was 0.5 months, among the 41% of 342 people who were sent to prison. At courts-martial in 2021, 87% of 139 convictions for wrongful drug use included confinement, and the median was 3 months. For this year, the court-martial m
§2M3.1 Gathering or Transmitting National Defense Information to Aid a Foreign Government: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
The 11 people sentenced under guideline §2M3.1 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 all received prison terms. The median prison term was 228 months (19 years),.
§2K2.6 Possessing, Purchasing, or Owning Body Armor by Violent Felons: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Among 13 people sentenced under guideline §2K2.6 in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, 11 (85%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 20 months. 11 pleaded guilty and 2 were convicted after a trial.
§2K1.5 Possessing Dangerous Weapons or Materials While Boarding or Aboard an Aircraft: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
13 people were sentenced under guideline §2K1.5 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 8 (62%) received a prison term, with a median of 6.8 months, and 4 (31%) received probation only. All 13 pleaded guilty.
§2M3.3 Transmitting National Defense Information: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
All 15 people sentenced under guideline §2M3.3 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 45 months (3.8 years). 14 of the 15 pleaded guilty, and every person was ordered to serve supervised release.
§2T2.1 Non-Payment of Taxes: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Among 17 people sentenced under guideline §2T2.1 in fiscal years 2016 to 2023, 14 (82%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 17 months. All 17 pleaded guilty, and restitution was ordered in all 17 cases.
§2E1.2 Interstate or Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of a Racketeering Enterprise: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 18 people were sentenced under guideline §2E1.2. 8 (44%) received a prison term and 10 (56%) received probation only. All 18 pleaded guilty, and the median prison term was 3 months.
§2X7.2 Submersible and Semi-Submersible Vessels: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
All 19 people sentenced under guideline §2X7.2 received a prison term, and all 19 pleaded guilty. The median prison term was 46 months (3.8 years), and every person was ordered to serve supervised release after prison, with a median of 36 months.
§2B6.1 Altering or Removing Motor Vehicle Identification Numbers, or Trafficking in Motor Vehicles or Parts with Altered or Obliterated Identification Numbers: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 26 people were sentenced in federal court under §2B6.1, and 21 (81%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 18 months. 25 of the 26 pleaded guilty.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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