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
§2E3.1 Gambling Offenses: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Federal courts sentenced 544 people under guideline §2E3.1, Gambling Offenses; Animal Fighting Offenses, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Prison was ordered for 311 (57%), with a median term of 12 months, and 175 people (32%) received probation only.
§2G1.1 Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with an Individual Other than a Minor: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 612 people were sentenced under guideline §2G1.1. The median prison term was 33 months, but the median after a trial was 262 months, and a mandatory minimum applied to 117 people (19%).
§2A1.2 Second Degree Murder: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
All 651 people sentenced under guideline §2A1.2, Second Degree Murder, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 234 months (19.5 years), and 29 people received a life sentence.
§2A6.2 Stalking or Domestic Violence: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Of 656 people sentenced in federal court under guideline §2A6.2, Stalking or Domestic Violence, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 619 (94%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 35 months (2.9 years), and 13% of sentences were above the guideline range.
§2K1.4 Arson: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Nearly all of the 727 people sentenced under guideline §2K1.4, Arson, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 went to prison: 698 (96%). The median term was 60 months (5 years), and a mandatory minimum applied to 407 people (56%).
§2A2.3 Assault: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Guideline §2A2.3, titled Assault, was the primary guideline for 758 people sentenced in federal court in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Prison was ordered for 467 (62%), with a median term of 6.2 months. Within-range sentences were 72% of the total.
§2Q2.1 Offenses Involving Fish, Wildlife, and Plants: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Among 798 people sentenced under guideline §2Q2.1 (fish, wildlife, and plants) in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 448 (56%) received probation only and 257 (32%) received prison. The median prison term was 6 months.
§2X3.1 Accessory After the Fact: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Federal courts sentenced 827 people under guideline §2X3.1, accessory after the fact, in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Prison was ordered for 693 (84%), and the median term was 30 months (2.5 years). Cases sentenced after a trial had a median of 62.5 months.
§2L2.1 Trafficking in a Document Relating to Naturalization, Citizenship, or Legal Resident Status, or a United States Passport: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Of 885 people sentenced in federal court under guideline §2L2.1 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 623 (70%) received a prison term, with a median of 11 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 55 people (6%), and 95% of the group pleaded guilty.
§2B4.1 Bribery in Procurement of Bank Loan and Other Commercial Bribery: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 983 people were sentenced in federal court under guideline §2B4.1, and 682 of them (69%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those sent to prison was 16.5 months. Only 20% were within the guideline range.
§2M5.2 Exportation of Arms, Munitions, or Military Equipment or Services Without Required Validated Export License: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 1,391 people were sentenced under §2M5.2, the guideline for exporting arms, munitions, or military equipment or services without a required validated export license. The median prison term was 27 months (2.2 years), and 1,256 people (90%) received prison.
§2D2.1 Unlawful Possession: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Guideline §2D2.1, Unlawful Possession; Attempt or Conspiracy, covered 1,393 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Probation only went to 777 (56%), and 584 (42%) received a prison term with a median of 1.6 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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