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
§2B2.3 Trespass: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Of 158 people sentenced under §2B2.3 from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025, 85 (54%) received a prison term, and the median was 2 months. 95% of sentences (150 people) were within the guideline range.
§2M5.1 Evasion of Export Controls: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Median prison for people sentenced under §2M5.1 was 18.3 months from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025. 136 of 162 people (84%) were sent to prison, and 159 (98%) pleaded guilty. No mandatory minimum applied to anyone.
§2Q1.3 Mishandling of Other Environmental Pollutants: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Probation only was the most common sentence under §2Q1.3: 105 of 163 people (64%) received it from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025. 43 (26%) received prison, with a median term of 5 months. A fine was ordered for 89 people (55%).
§2M5.3 Providing Material Support or Resources to Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists, or For a Terrorist Purpose: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Under §2M5.3, 164 of 165 people (more than 99%) sentenced from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025 received prison. The median prison term was 144 months, or 12 years, and 46 people (28%) received supervised release for life.
§2D1.11 Unlawfully Distributing, Importing, Exporting or Possessing a Listed Chemical: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Of 180 people sentenced under §2D1.11 from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025, 171 (95%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 36 months. Most of the cases date from fiscal years 2016 to 2019.
§2R1.1 Bid-Rigging, Price-Fixing or Market-Allocation Agreements Among Competitors: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Fines were ordered for 164 of the 184 people (89%) sentenced under §2R1.1 from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025. 79 (43%) received a prison term, with a median of 6 months, and 59 (32%) received probation only.
§2K1.3 Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Guideline §2K1.3 was the primary guideline for 185 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 142 (77%) received prison, and the median prison term was 18 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 2 people.
§2B1.4 Insider Trading: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
People who went to trial under §2B1.4 received a median prison term of 19 months, compared with 6 months for those who pleaded guilty. The group totals 206 people sentenced from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025, and 155 of them (75%) received prison.
§2E4.1 Unlawful Conduct Relating to Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Under guideline §2E4.1, 224 people were sentenced in federal court from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025. 108 (48%) received a prison term with a median of 12 months, and 102 (46%) received probation only. Nearly all pleaded guilty.
§2J1.3 Perjury or Subornation of Perjury: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
The median prison term was 12 months for people sentenced under §2J1.3 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The group totals 225 people, and 135 of them (60%) were sent to prison. Sentences were below the guideline range more often than within it.
§2A5.2 Interference with Flight Crew Member or Flight Attendant: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In brief: 244 people were sentenced in federal court from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025 under guideline §2A5.2 as the primary guideline. 158 of them (65%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 8 months. 233 of the 244 (95%) pleaded guilty.
§2N2.1 Violations of Statutes and Regulations Dealing With Any Food, Drug, Biological Product, Device, Cosmetic, or Agricultural Product: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Probation only was the most common sentence under §2N2.1: 214 of 264 people (81%) in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Prison went to 39 people (15%), with a median of 4 months. Of all sentences, 245 (93%) were within the guideline range.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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