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 Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
Of 12 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of Colorado in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 8 (67%) received probation only and 4 (33%) received a prison term. Across all 94 districts, 28% were sent to prison. A fine was ordered for 8 of the 12 (67%).
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
The District of Colorado sentenced 13 people for burglary or trespass offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2024. 9 (69%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months, compared with 18 months for all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 11 of the 13 people (85%).
Federal Food and Drug Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
In the District of Colorado, 10 of the 15 people sentenced for food and drug offenses (67%) received probation only, and 5 (33%) received a prison term. For all 94 districts, 32% were sent to prison. The median prison term in Colorado was 36 months, compared with 17.3 months for all districts.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
The District of Colorado sentenced 15 people for bribery or corruption offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. 9 (60%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months, the same as the median for all 94 districts. 14 of the 15 pleaded guilty, and the group is small enough that single cases move eve
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
Of 28 people sentenced for drug possession in the District of Colorado in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, 19 (68%) received probation only and 8 (29%) received a prison term. For all 94 districts, 68% were sent to prison. The median prison term in Colorado was 1.7 months, compared with 6 months for all d
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
The District of Colorado sentenced 33 people for stalking or harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 28 (85%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months, the same as the median for all 94 districts. 17 sentences (52%) were within the guideline range, compared with 47% for all distri
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
All 47 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the District of Colorado in fiscal years 2016 to 2024 pleaded guilty, and all 47 received a prison term. The median prison term was 97 months (8.1 years), compared with 90 months for all 94 districts. A mandator
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
In the District of Colorado, 55 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 36 (65%) received a prison term, and 14 (25%) received probation only. The median prison term was 19.5 months, compared with 15.1 months for all 94 districts, and restitution was ordered for 50 peopl
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 58 people were sentenced in the District of Colorado for offenses in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's "Prison Offenses" type. 59% received a sentence within the guideline range, compared with 63% for all 94 districts. The median prison term was 14.5 months, compared wit
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
In the District of Colorado, 64 of 65 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, with a median of 208 months (17.3 years). The median for all 94 districts was 180 months. 1 person received a life sentence, and 11 (17%) received supervised release
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
From fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the District of Colorado sentenced 71 people in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's "Administration of Justice" offense type. 54 (76%) received a prison term, with a median of 10 months, compared with a median of 12 months for all 94 districts. The most common primary gu
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the District of Colorado, FY2016–2025
Of 78 people sentenced in the District of Colorado in the Sentencing Commission's "Other" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 38 (49%) received probation only and 30 (38%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 2 months, compared with 36 months for all offenses in the district. Th
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