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 Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of West Virginia, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 57% of the 2,879 people sentenced in the Northern District of West Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,628 people. 82% received a prison term, with a median of 51 months, compared with 60 months across all 94 federal districts. The yearly median was 30 months in 2016 an
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Virginia, 11 of the 14 people (79%) sentenced for bribery and corruption in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 24 months, compared with 18 months across all 94 districts.
Federal Food and Drug Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Virginia, 14 of 17 people (82%) sentenced for food and drug offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2025 received a prison term. Across all 94 districts, 32% of people in this category were sent to prison, and the median there was 17.3 months. The district's median was 30 months.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Virginia sentenced 20 people in the Commission's "Stalking/Harassing" category in fiscal years 2017 to 2025, and all 20 received a prison term. The median was 22.5 months, compared with 24 months across all 94 districts.
Federal Assault Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
All 23 people sentenced for assault in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 84 months, or 7 years, compared with 42 months for assault across all 94 districts.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Virginia, 25 people were sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 21 (84%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 96 months, compared with 40 months for money laundering across all 94 districts.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
Of 26 people sentenced in the Commission's "Other" offense category in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 10 (38%) received a prison term and 11 (42%) received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 28 people in the Western District of Virginia were sentenced for prison offenses, and all 28 received a prison term. The median was 36 months, compared with 10 months for this category across all 94 districts.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Virginia, 35 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 35 pleaded guilty and received a prison term, with a median of 24 months. Across all 94 districts the median for this category was 18 months.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Virginia sentenced 36 people for murder offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 36 received a prison term. The median was 234 months, or 19.5 years, and 5 people received a life sentence.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
Of 39 people sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 28 (72%) received a prison term and 9 (23%) received probation only. The median prison term was 12 months, the same as the median for this offense type across all 94 distri
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the Western District of Virginia sentenced 39 people in the Commission's "Sexual Abuse" category, and all 39 received a prison term. The median was 192 months, or 16 years, compared with 180 months across all 94 districts.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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