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 District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
All 43 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 40 months, or 3.3 years. For this offense type in all 94 districts, the median was 90 months.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
62 people were sentenced for drug possession in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 66% received a prison term and 34% received probation only. The median prison term was 0 months, compared with 6 months for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
106 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, and embezzlement in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 81% received a prison term, and 15% received probation only. The median prison term was 12 months, compared with 20 months for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
162 people were sentenced for immigration offenses in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 93% received a prison term, but the median prison term was 0 months. For immigration cases in all 94 districts, the median was 7 months.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
202 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 96% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 18 months. For firearms cases in all 94 districts, the median was 42 months.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Vermont, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 54% of the 1,619 people sentenced in the District of Vermont in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 878 people. 97% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 25 months. For drug trafficking in all 94 districts, the median was 60 months.
Federal Extortion and Racketeering Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 10 people were sentenced for extortion or racketeering in the District of Connecticut, and all 10 received a prison term. The median was 36 months, compared with 30 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. Of the 10, 9 pleaded guilty.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission data lists 12 people sentenced for drug possession in the District of Connecticut, all in fiscal years 2017 to 2024. Only 1 (8%) received a prison term, and 11 (92%) received probation only. In all 94 districts, 68% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission data lists 12 people sentenced for obscenity or other sex offenses in the District of Connecticut, all in fiscal years 2016 to 2023. The median prison term was 18 months, the same as the median for this offense type in all 94 districts. The most common primary guidelin
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
The data lists 13 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of Connecticut, all in fiscal years 2018 to 2023. Probation only was the sentence for 9 (69%), and 2 (15%) went to prison. In all 94 districts, 28% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
The District of Connecticut sentenced 14 people for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 14 pleaded guilty and received a prison term. The median was 12 months, compared with 10 months across all 94 districts. 50% of the group was in the highest criminal history category.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
The District of Connecticut sentenced 14 people for stalking or harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 23 months for the 12 who went to prison, close to the 24-month median for this offense type in all 94 districts. Only 14% of the sentences were within the guide
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