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 Murder Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
All 14 people sentenced under the Commission's "Murder" offense type in the District of Kansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 306 months (25.5 years), and 3 people received a life sentence. Of the 14, 8 (57%) pleaded guilty, which is lower than the 97
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Of the 19 people sentenced under the Commission's "National Defense" offense type in the District of Kansas, 17 (89%) received probation only, and 2 (11%) received a prison term. Across all 94 federal districts, 84% of people in this offense type were sent to prison. The 2 Kansas prison terms had a
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
In the District of Kansas, 16 of the 19 people (84%) sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 24.9 months, compared with 24 months across all 94 federal districts. With 19 people in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, this i
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Of the 24 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of Kansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 20 (83%) received probation only, and 3 (13%) received a prison term. Across all 94 federal districts, 28% of people sentenced in this offense type were sent to prison. A fine was ordered fo
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
In the District of Kansas, 27 of the 30 people sentenced in the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 had a failure-to-register guideline as the primary guideline. Of the 30, 28 (93%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 12 months, co
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Of the 42 people sentenced under the Commission's Forgery/Counter/Copyright offense type in the District of Kansas, all 42 (100%) pleaded guilty, and 27 (64%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 21 months, compared with 17.6 months across all 94 federal districts. Most cases used a gu
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Restitution was ordered for 44 of the 48 people (92%) sentenced for tax offenses in the District of Kansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A prison term went to 32 (67%), and the median prison term was 17.5 months. Only 31% of sentences were within the guideline range, and 0% were above it.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Of the 54 people sentenced for drug possession offenses in the District of Kansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 38 (70%) received probation only, and 16 (30%) received a prison term. Across all 94 federal districts, 68% of people sentenced in this offense type were sent to prison. The Kansas median
Federal Assault Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
In the District of Kansas, 44% of the 61 people sentenced for assault offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and 44% received probation only. For all 94 federal districts together, 90% of people sentenced in this offense type were sent to prison. The Kansas median prison term
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
Of the 68 people sentenced for money laundering offenses in the District of Kansas in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 56% received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request, and 21% were sentenced within the range. The median prison term was 27 months, and 60% of the group received
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for the 89 people sent to prison for sexual abuse offenses in the District of Kansas, fiscal years 2016 to 2025, was 285 months (23.8 years). For all 94 federal districts together, the median for this offense type was 180 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 74 of the 91 peo
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Kansas, FY2016–2025
In the District of Kansas, 56% of the 91 people sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and 42% received probation only. Across all 94 federal districts, 72% of people sentenced for this offense type were sent to prison. The median prison
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