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 Assault Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 29 people were sentenced in the Southern District of Alabama in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's "Assault" offense type. The median prison term was 96.5 months (8 years), compared with 42 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. None of the 28 people wi
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
From fiscal year 2016 to 2025, 32 people were sentenced in the Southern District of Alabama in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's "Sexual Abuse" offense type. All 32 received a prison term, and the median prison term was 223 months (18.6 years). The median for all 94 federal districts in this offense
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
All 32 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 151 months (12.6 years), compared with 90 months across all 94 federal districts. A mandatory minimum applied
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of the 36 people sentenced for money laundering in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 10 (28%) were within the guideline range, and 17 (47%) were below it at the government's request. In all 94 federal districts, 25% were within the range. The median prison term was 36.8
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Alabama, 37 of the 38 people sentenced for obscenity or other sex offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 were sentenced under the failure-to-register guideline. The median prison term was 15 months, lower than the 18 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of the 96 people sentenced for robbery in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 95 (99%) received a prison term. The median was 111 months (9.2 years), compared with 90 months across all 94 federal districts. A mandatory minimum applied to 46 people (48%).
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of the 219 people sentenced for immigration offenses in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 210 (96%) received a prison term. The median was 3.3 months, compared with 7 months across all 94 federal districts. All 219 pleaded guilty.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Restitution was ordered for 318 of the 368 people (86%) sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 368, 264 (72%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months, and 87 (24%) received probation only.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of the 897 people sentenced for firearms offenses in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 864 (96%) received a prison term. The median was 37 months (3.1 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts. 642 people (72%) were sentenced within the guideline ra
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Southern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 853 of the 1,072 people sentenced for drug trafficking in the Southern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (80%). Of these 1,072 people, 1,034 (96%) received a prison term, with a median of 63 months (5.2 years). Across all 94 federal districts
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the Middle District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of 14 people sentenced for federal individual rights offenses in the Middle District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 4 were convicted after a trial, which is more often than in most federal categories. The median prison term was 29.5 months for the 10 people sent to prison, compared with 30
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Middle District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
All 16 people sentenced for federal drug possession in the Middle District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2024 pleaded guilty, and every sentence was within the guideline range. Probation only was the result for 9 people (56%), and 7 (44%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 3 mont
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