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 Tax Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 27 people sentenced for tax offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 22 (81%) received a prison term, with a median of 22 months. Restitution was ordered for 26 people (96%). In all 94 federal districts, the median prison term for tax offenses was 15.1 month
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 28 people sentenced for individual rights offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 9 (32%) were sentenced within the guideline range, and 14 (50%) were below it at the government's request. In all 94 federal districts, 38% were within the range. The median p
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 30 people sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 13 (43%) received a prison term and 15 (50%) received probation only. The median prison term was 18 months, compared with 12 months in all 94 federal districts. Mispri
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 32 people sentenced for prison offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2017 to 2025, 31 (97%) received a prison term. The median was 15 months, compared with 10 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. Escape was the primary guideline for 21 people.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
All 34 people sentenced for robbery in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2017 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 128 months (10.7 years), compared with 90 months for robbery in all 94 federal districts. The median was 121.5 months after a guilty plea and 404.5 months afte
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 39 people sentenced for drug possession offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, 35 (90%) received probation only, and 4 (10%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 4 people was 0.7 months. A fine was ordered for 34 people (87%).
Federal Assault Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 41 people sentenced for assault offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 39 (95%) received a prison term, with a median of 55 months (4.6 years). After a guilty plea the median was 51 months. After a trial it was 230 months, based on 4 people.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission counted 44 people sentenced for offenses in its "Other" category in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2017 to 2025. Of these, 13 (30%) received a prison term, with a median of 6 months, and 31 (70%) received probation only. All 20 people with guideline
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Of the 54 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 48 (89%) received probation only, and 6 (11%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 6 was 2 months. A fine was ordered for 45 people (83%).
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
Among the 97 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 95 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 97 months (8.1 years), compared with 90 months for the same offense type in all 9
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
All 98 people sentenced in the "Sexual Abuse" offense type in the Western District of Louisiana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and 28 (29%) also received supervised release for life. The median prison term was 207 months (17.2 years), compared with 180 months across all 94 fede
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Western District of Louisiana, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Louisiana sentenced 306 people for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 4.7 months. A quarter of those sent to prison received 0 months or less. Across all 94 federal districts the median was 7 months.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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