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 Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Western District of Washington, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Washington, 569 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, and embezzlement offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 330 of them (58%) received a prison term, with a median of 18 months. Restitution was ordered for 404 (71%).
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Western District of Washington, FY2016–2025
The Sentencing Commission's "Other" offense type covers 732 people sentenced in the Western District of Washington in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, or 18% of the district's 3,992. Of the 732, 496 (68%) received probation only, and the median prison term was 0 months. A fine was ordered for 668 (91%).
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Western District of Washington, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 30% of the 3,992 people sentenced in the Western District of Washington in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 1,202 people sentenced for it, 1,186 (99%) received a prison term, with a median of 60 months (5 years). Only 8% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
Only 10 people were sentenced in the District of Oregon under the Commission's "Commercialized Vice" category, and the cases fall in fiscal years 2016 to 2022. 8 of the 10 received a prison term, and the median prison term was 24 months (2 years). That is higher than the 18 months for this category
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission records 17 people sentenced in the District of Oregon under its "Forgery/Counter/Copyright" category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Every one of them pleaded guilty. 53% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 8 months, which is lower than the 17.6 months
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 18 people were sentenced for murder in the years the Commission data covers, fiscal years 2018 to 2025. All 18 received a prison term, and the median prison term was 189 months (15.8 years). 4 received a life sentence.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 23 people were sentenced for drug possession in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 52% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 0.8 months. In 91% of cases, the sentence was within the guideline range, which is a higher share than for all offenses in the district (22
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 24 people were sentenced for environmental offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 79% received probation only, and 13% received a prison term. A fine was ordered for 54%. All 24 pleaded guilty.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 42 people were sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 74% received a prison term, with a median of 17 months, which is lower than the 24 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts together.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 47 people were sentenced in the Commission's catch-all "Other" offense category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 34% received probation only, and 85% of sentences were within the guideline range, compared with 22% for all offenses in the district.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
In the District of Oregon, 53 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Administration of Justice" category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 64% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 9 months, which is lower than the 12 months in all 94 federal districts together.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Oregon, FY2016–2025
Tax cases were 1% of the 4,319 people sentenced in the District of Oregon in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 58 people. 62% received a prison term, with a median of 18 months, which is higher than the 15.1 months for tax offenses in all 94 federal districts together.
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