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 Child Pornography Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Western District of Virginia sentenced 40 people in the Commission's "Child Pornography" category (images of child exploitation) in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 40 pleaded guilty and received a prison term, with a median of 94.5 months, compared with 90 months across all 94 districts.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Virginia, 42 people were sentenced for robbery offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 42 received a prison term, and the median was 70 months. The median for robbery across all 94 federal districts was 90 months.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
45 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 30 (67%) received a prison term, with a median of 19 months, and 12 (27%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts together, 66% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
The Commission counted 163 people sentenced for immigration offenses in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 3.4 months, and a quarter of those sent to prison received 0 months or less. For this offense type in all 94 federal districts together, t
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
272 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 38.5 months (3.2 years), lower than the 42 months for firearms in all 94 federal districts together and lower than the 60 months for all offenses in this distr
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
334 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 230 (69%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months, and 62 (19%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts together, the median for this offense type was
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Western District of Virginia, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was the largest group among the people sentenced in the Western District of Virginia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,302 of 2,529, or 51%. The median prison term was 84 months (7 years), compared with 60 months for all offenses in the district and for drug trafficking in all 94 fede
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Delaware, FY2016–2025
Only 10 people were sentenced for murder offenses in the District of Delaware in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, and all 10 received a prison term. The median was 330 months (27.5 years), compared with 240 months in all 94 districts, and 4 people received a life sentence. 4 of the 10 were convicted after
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Delaware, FY2016–2025
In the District of Delaware, 21 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 21 received prison, and the median prison term was 96 months (8 years), compared with 90 months across all 94 districts. A mandatory minimum applied t
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Delaware, FY2016–2025
In the District of Delaware, 21 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 86% received a prison term, compared with 66% in all 94 districts, and the median prison term was 12 months. Only 14% of sentences were within the guideline range.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Delaware, FY2016–2025
In the District of Delaware, 22 people were sentenced for money laundering offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 22 received a prison term. The median was 24 months, compared with 40 months for money laundering cases in all 94 districts. 77% pleaded guilty, which is lower than the 93% rate
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of Delaware, FY2016–2025
Robbery was a small part of the District of Delaware's federal caseload: 23 people were sentenced from fiscal year 2016 to 2025, which is 2% of the district's 925 people. All 23 received prison, and the median prison term was 84 months (7 years), compared with 90 months across all 94 districts.
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