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
7 U.S.C. 2156, Animal fighting venture prohibition: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Federal courts closed the cases of 162 defendants charged most seriously under 7 U.S.C. 2156 in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 148 of them (91%) were convicted. Felonies made up 116 of the charges (72%), and Class A misdemeanors made up 46 (28%). Of those convicted, 94 (64%) received a prison term o
18 U.S.C. 2118, Robberies and burglaries involving controlled substances: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Almost all of the 162 federal defendants whose cases under 18 U.S.C. 2118 ended in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty: 159, or 98%. Of those 159 convicted, 149 (94%) received a prison term on that charge, and the median term was 40.5 months (3.4 years). Only 1 case went to trial, and it ended
18 U.S.C. 933, Trafficking in firearms: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2023–2025
Nearly every federal case under 18 U.S.C. 933 ended in a guilty plea. Of 163 defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2023 to 2025, 156 (96%) pleaded guilty, 6 (4%) had their cases dismissed, and 1 went to trial. Among the 156 convicted, 152 (97%) received a prison term on that charge, with a me
18 U.S.C. 659, Interstate or foreign shipments by carrier; State prosecutions: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 166 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was 18 U.S.C. 659, 9 went to trial, and 6 of those 9 trials ended in an acquittal. The other cases mostly ended in guilty pleas (87%), and 7% were dismissed. Among the 148 convicted, 119 (80%) received a prison term on that c
18 U.S.C. 117, Domestic assault by an habitual offender: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 176 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 18 U.S.C. 117, 169 (96%) were convicted, almost all by guilty plea. Nearly every conviction brought a prison term: 166 of the 169 (98%) received one on that charge, and the median term was 34 months (2.8 years). On
18 U.S.C. 758, High speed flight from immigration checkpoint: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
All 181 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case was under 18 U.S.C. 758 faced a felony, and 167 of them (92%) were convicted in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Guilty pleas accounted for 164 cases (91%), dismissals for 13 (7%), and trials for 4 (2%). A prison term on the charg
18 U.S.C. 1623, False declarations before grand jury or court: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Of 184 federal defendants whose most serious charge at the end of the case fell under 18 U.S.C. 1623, 18 (10%) went to trial in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 1 of those 18 trials ended in an acquittal. Most of the rest pleaded guilty: 155 (84%). In all, 172 of the 184 (93%) were convicted, and the
18 U.S.C. 2, Principals: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
From fiscal year 2016 through 2025, 185 federal defendants had their cases end with 18 U.S.C. 2 listed as the most serious charge. Of the 174 convicted, 137 (79%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 48 months (4 years). 169 (91%) pleaded guilty, and 2 of the 7 trials ended in an
18 U.S.C. 2111, Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
From fiscal year 2016 through 2025, 186 federal defendants had their cases end with 18 U.S.C. 2111 as the most serious charge, and 168 of them (90%) pleaded guilty. In all, 175 (94%) were convicted. Of those convicted, 167 (95%) received a prison term on this charge, with a median of 51 months (4.2
22 U.S.C. 2778, Control of arms exports and imports: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
191 federal defendants had their cases end in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 with 22 U.S.C. 2778 as the most serious charge. 146 (76%) pleaded guilty, 37 (19%) had their cases dismissed, and 8 (4%) went to trial. Among the 153 convicted, 140 (92%) received a prison term on that charge, with a median of 3
42 U.S.C. 1383, Procedure for payment of benefits: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2016–2025
Every charge under 42 U.S.C. 1383 in this data was a felony, yet only 57 of the 179 people convicted (32%) received a prison term on that charge in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median term was 8 months. Of the 189 defendants, 178 (94%) pleaded guilty and 2 went to trial.
18 U.S.C. 231, Civil disorders: How Federal Cases Ended, FY2017–2025
Federal records show 200 defendants whose cases ended in fiscal years 2017 to 2025 with a most serious charge under 18 U.S.C. 231. Of those, 22 went to trial and none was acquitted, 50 (25%) had the charges dismissed, and 150 (75%) were convicted. Prison terms followed in 136 of the 150 convictions
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