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
Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement Charges: Federal Trial Acquittals vs. Contested Navy Courts-Martial
In the Navy, 18 of 55 contested courts-martial for sexual offenses against a child that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal (33%), and 5 (9%) were partial acquittals. In federal court, 6 of 245 trials ended in an acquittal (2%). Navy records usually do not show who decided guilt, which limit
Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement Charges: Federal Trial Acquittals vs. Contested Army Courts-Martial
In the Army, 25 of 78 contested courts-martial for sexual offenses against a child that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal (32%), and 31 (40%) were partial acquittals. In federal court, 6 of 245 trials ended in an acquittal (2%). The groups are counted differently, so the rates are not a li
Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement Charges: How Often Federal Trials and Courts-Martial End in Acquittal
Of 143 contested courts-martial for sexual offenses against a child in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps that reached a verdict, 47 ended in a full acquittal (33%). In federal court, 6 of 245 trials ended in an acquittal (2%). These rates count different groups of cases, so the gap does not measure h
§2D2.2 Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Forgery, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 539 people were sentenced under guideline §2D2.2, and 332 (62%) received probation only. Another 155 (29%) received prison, with a median term of 6 months. The sentence was within the guideline range for 82%.
§2L2.2 Fraudulently Acquiring Documents Relating to Naturalization, Citizenship, or Legal Resident Status for Own Use: Federal Sentences, FY2016–2025
Prison terms under §2L2.2 were short. In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 6,602 people were sentenced under it, and the median prison term was 3.9 months. 87% received prison, 11% received probation only, and 98% pleaded guilty.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With the Loss Amount Not Specified, FY2016–2025
The 10,086 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud in a band called loss not specified are cases where the records show a loss with no amount. In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 7,424 (74%) received a prison term, with a median of 20 months. These cannot be placed in a dollar band.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss Over $3.5 Million, FY2016–2025
The 3,842 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a loss over $3.5 million had a median prison term of 54 months (4.5 years). Prison went to 3,617 (94%). This is the highest dollar band in fiscal years 2016 to 2025.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $550,001 to $3.5 Million, FY2016–2025
For the 8,821 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a loss of $550,001 to $3.5 million, 8,084 (92%) received a prison term. The median was 33 months (2.8 years). Trials were followed by a median of 60 months, compared with 30 months after a guilty plea.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $95,001 to $550,000, FY2016–2025
Among 12,709 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a loss of $95,001 to $550,000, the median prison term was 20 months for the 9,933 (78%) sent to prison. After a guilty plea it was 18 months, and after a trial it was 36 months. Fiscal years 2016 to 2025 are covered.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $15,001 to $95,000, FY2016–2025
Federal courts sentenced 10,331 people for theft or fraud with a loss of $15,001 to $95,000 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Only 48% (4,971) were sentenced within the guideline range, and the rest were mostly below it. The median prison term for the 6,004 sent to prison (58%) was 12 months.
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,001 to $15,000, FY2016–2025
Of 4,270 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a loss of $1,001 to $15,000, 2,300 (54%) received a prison term and 1,714 (40%) received probation only. The median prison term was 8 months after any conviction, 7.7 months after a guilty plea and 24 months after a trial. The years
Federal Theft and Fraud Sentences With a Loss of $1,000 or Less, FY2016–2025
Probation only was the most common sentence for the 1,210 people sentenced in federal court for theft or fraud with a loss of $1,000 or less: 756 (62%). A prison term went to 397 (33%), with a median of 5.8 months. These are fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and only convicted people are counted.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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