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 Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
In the District of Nevada, 81 people were sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 61 (75%) received a prison term, 12 (15%) received probation only, and the median prison term was 46 months. In all 94 federal districts, 88% were sent to prison and the median was 40 mon
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
All 173 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) in the District of Nevada in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 78 months, compared with 90 months in all 94 federal districts. Supervised release for life was ordered for 101 people (58%).
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
In the District of Nevada, 19 of the 215 people sentenced for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 were convicted after a trial, and their median prison term was 204 months. The median after a guilty plea was 84 months. For robbery in all 94 districts, the median was 90 months.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
Of the 419 people sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the District of Nevada in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 291 (69%) received a prison term and 92 (22%) received probation only. The median prison term was 24 months, compared with 20 months in all 94 federal districts. Restitution was orde
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission lists 622 people sentenced for immigration offenses in the District of Nevada in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 17% of the district's 3,640 cases. The median prison term was 9 months, compared with 7 months in all 94 districts. A total of 330 sentences (53%) were
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
In the District of Nevada, 51% of the 841 people sentenced for drug trafficking in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request. Across all 94 federal districts, 32% of sentences for this offense type were within the range. The median prison ter
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Nevada, FY2016–2025
The District of Nevada sentenced 857 people for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 24% of all 3,640 people sentenced in the district. The median prison term was 30 months, compared with 42 months for firearms cases in all 94 federal districts. Of the 857, 785 (92%) received a p
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 10 people for kidnapping in fiscal years 2017 to 2023, and 7 of them (70%) received a term below the guideline range at the government's request. The median prison term was 56.5 months (4.7 years), compared with 155 months in all 94 districts.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Of the 10 people sentenced for prison offenses in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2022, 9 had a straight guilty plea with no plea agreement (90%). All 10 received a prison term, and the median was 11 months, compared with 10 months in all 94 districts.
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Only 3 of the 13 people sentenced for burglary or trespass in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2024 received a sentence within the guideline range (23%), compared with 63% in all 94 districts. The median prison term was 16.5 months, and 12 of the 13 went to prison.
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
In the District of Montana, 18 of 19 people sentenced for murder in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty (95%), compared with 78% in all 94 districts. Every person received a prison term, and the median was 240 months (20 years), the same as the national median.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 19 people for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2022, and all 19 were sentenced under one guideline, for counterfeit bearer obligations of the United States. The median prison term was 17 months, about the same as the 17.6 months
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