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 Other Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission's catch-all offense type "Other" covered 22 people in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Most received probation only (14 people, 64%), and 13 were sentenced under the guideline for acquiring a controlled substance by forgery, fraud, deception, or su
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Of the 25 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 20 (80%) received probation only and 5 (20%) received a prison term. Nationally, 28% were sent to prison. A fine was ordered for 17 people (68%).
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 26 people for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and the median prison term was 12 months, the same as in all 94 districts. Sentences were within the guideline range for 27% of the group, compared with 48% nationally.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Most of the 26 people sentenced for tax offenses in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received probation only: 15 people (58%). Prison went to 10 people (38%), compared with 66% in all 94 districts. Restitution was ordered for 25 people (96%).
Federal Robbery Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
All 38 people sentenced for robbery in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2017 to 2025 received prison, and all 38 were ordered to serve supervised release. The median prison term was 83 months (6.9 years), against 90 months for robbery across all 94 districts.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
In the District of Montana, 40 people were sentenced for stalking or harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 27 of them were sentenced under the guideline for stalking or domestic violence. The median prison term was 29 months (2.4 years). In all 94 districts, the median for this offens
Federal Manslaughter Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Federal courts in Montana sentenced 41 people for manslaughter between fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The median prison term was 48 months (4 years), shorter than the 63 months reported for this offense type in all 94 districts. A total of 6 sentences (15%) were above the guideline range.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 48 people for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A mandatory minimum applied to 25 of them (52%), and the median prison term was 61.5 months (5.1 years), compared with 40 months for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Of the 71 people sentenced for obscenity and other sex offenses in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 63 were sentenced under the guideline for failure to register as a sex offender. The median prison term was 15.5 months, compared with 18 months in all 94 districts, and 13% of se
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 75 people for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 74 of them received a prison term. The median prison term was 78 months (6.5 years), compared with 90 months for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 112 people for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 4.9 months, compared with 7 months for this offense type in all 94 districts, and 46% were ordered to serve supervised release after prison.
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
In the District of Montana, 144 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 139 of them (97%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 110 months (9.2 years), compared with 180 months for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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