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 Assault Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 237 people for assault offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 205 of them were sentenced under the aggravated assault guideline. The median prison term was 29 months (2.4 years), compared with 42 months for assault in all 94 districts.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
In the District of Montana, 311 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of these, 64% received a prison term and 32% received probation only, and restitution was ordered for 88%. The median prison term was 24 months (2 years), compared with 20 months in
Federal Firearms Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
The District of Montana sentenced 786 people for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 29.5 months (2.5 years), compared with 42 months for this offense type in all 94 districts, and 10% received probation only.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Montana, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 40% of the 3,524 people sentenced in the District of Montana in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,412 people. A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 81% of them, and the median prison term was 60 months (5 years), the same as for this offense type in all 94 districts.
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of California, 64% of the 11 people sentenced for burglary or trespass in fiscal years 2019 to 2025 were in the highest criminal history category. All 11 pleaded guilty, and 91% received a prison term. The median prison term was 25.5 months.
Federal Antitrust Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
Of 12 people sentenced for antitrust offenses in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2022, 7 (58%) received a prison term and 5 (42%) received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months. A fine was ordered for 67%.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
Failure to register as a sex offender was the primary guideline in 10 of the 12 people sentenced under the offense type "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2023. All 12 pleaded guilty and all 12 received a prison term. The median prison term w
Federal Arson Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
A mandatory minimum prison term applied to 10 of the 16 people (63%) sentenced for arson in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 60 months, the same as for arson in all 94 districts. Trials were more common here than in the district overall.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
Gambling offenses make up most of the 16 commercialized vice cases sentenced in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 16 people pleaded guilty, 69% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 24 months. Fines were ordered for 56%.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of California, 21 people were sentenced for prison offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. A total of 95% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 18 months. For this offense type in all 94 districts, the median was 10 months.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of California, 21 people were sentenced for murder offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 21 received a prison term. The median prison term was 121 months, and 6 people received a life sentence. For this offense type in all 94 districts, the median was 240 months.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of California, 26 people were sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 under the U.S. Sentencing Commission's offense type "Other." All 26 pleaded guilty, and 54% received a prison term. The median prison term was 6 months, compared with 48 months for all offenses in the distri
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