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 District of Connecticut, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking accounts for 1,549 of the 3,174 people sentenced in the District of Connecticut in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 49%. The median prison term was 40 months, lower than the 60 months for this offense type in all 94 districts together. 41% of sentences were below the guideline ra
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
The District of Rhode Island sentenced 11 people for obscenity or other sex offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 8 of them (73%) were sent to prison for a median of 11.3 months, and 3 (27%) received probation only. Across all 94 federal districts, the median prison term for this offense type was 1
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
The District of Rhode Island sentenced 22 people for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 15 of them (68%) went to prison for a median of 36 months, while the median across all 94 federal districts was 40 months. 19 pleaded guilty (86%), a lower share than the 98% for all offenses in this
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
The District of Rhode Island sentenced 22 people for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 22 pleaded guilty and all were sent to prison, with a median term of 48 months (4 years). Across all 94 federal districts, the median for robbery was 90 months. 12 of the 22 (55%) were sentenced below the
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
The District of Rhode Island sentenced 23 people for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 13 of them (57%) received probation only, and 4 (17%) were sent to prison. Across all 94 federal districts, 66% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
In the District of Rhode Island, 51 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 49 of them (96%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 120 months (10 years), compared with 180 months across all 94 federal districts. 10 people (20%) received supervis
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
In the District of Rhode Island, 67 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 62 of them (93%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 60 months, compared with 90 months across all 94 federal districts. 7 people (
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
In the District of Rhode Island, 72 of the 73 people sentenced for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and the median was 3.3 months. Across all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 7 months. A quarter of the people sent to prison received
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
In the District of Rhode Island, 87 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 36 months, compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts. 52% were sentenced below the guideline range without a government request. A mandatory mini
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
From fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the District of Rhode Island sentenced 242 people for fraud, theft, or embezzlement, which was 24% of all 1,015 people it sentenced. 83% received a prison term, with a median of 24 months, compared with 20 months across all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 20
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Rhode Island, FY2016–2025
In the District of Rhode Island, 365 people were sentenced for drug trafficking in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 40 months, compared with 60 months for this offense type across all 94 federal districts. Only 10% were sentenced within the guideline range, while 42% were be
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of New Hampshire, FY2016–2025
10 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in the District of New Hampshire in the Commission's data for fiscal years 2017 to 2024. 7 received a prison term and 3 received probation only. The median prison term was 33 months, compared with 24 months for this offense type in all 94 d
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