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 Firearms Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
756 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 17% of everyone sentenced there. 95% received a prison term, with a median of 47.5 months, compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Eastern District of California, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking made up 42% of the 4,546 people sentenced in the Eastern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,891 people. The median prison term was 63 months, compared with 60 months across all 94 federal districts, and a mandatory minimum applied to 66% of the people with that i
Federal Arson Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
All 10 people sentenced for arson offenses in the Northern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, and a mandatory minimum applied to 7 of them (70%). The median prison term was 48 months (4 years). In all 94 federal districts, the median for arson was 60 months.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
Fines were the most common penalty in environmental cases in the Northern District of California: 7 of the 10 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2023 were ordered to pay one. A prison term went to 5 (50%), with a median of 3 months, and 5 (50%) received probation only. In all 94 federal distri
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
The records list 12 people sentenced for drug possession offenses in the Northern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2023. Of those, 7 (58%) received a prison term and 5 (42%) received probation only. The median prison term was 6 months, the same as for this offense type in all 94 federa
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
The records list 13 people sentenced for commercialized vice offenses in the Northern District of California, all in fiscal years 2016 to 2018. Of those, 12 (92%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 21 months. In all 94 federal districts, the median for this offense type was 18 mo
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
All 17 people sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in the Northern District of California received a prison term. The records cover fiscal years 2018 to 2025, and the median prison term was 20 months. For this offense type in all 94 federal districts, 89% were sent to prison and the median
Federal National Defense Offense Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
All 18 people sentenced for national defense offenses in the Northern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty, and 17 (94%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 18 months, compared with 24 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. Of the 18 se
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 29 people were sentenced in the Northern District of California for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses. The median prison term was 16.8 months, close to the 17.6 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. Only 14% of the sentences were within
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
Most people sentenced in the "Other" offense category in the Northern District of California did not go to prison. Of the 34 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, 12 (35%) received a prison term and 19 (56%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts, 38% of this category were sen
Federal Extortion and Racketeering Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of California, 40 people were sentenced for extortion and racketeering offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 37 months (3.1 years), compared with 30 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. Of the 40, 31 (78%) received a prison te
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of California, 47 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 12 months, the same as for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. The sentence was within the guideline range for 13%, compared wit
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