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 Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of California, 844 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 32 months, lower than the 42 months for firearms offenses in all 94 districts. Sentences below the guideline range were more common than sentences within i
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of California, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was 33% of the 4,531 people sentenced in the Northern District of California in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,502 people. The median prison term was 36 months, compared with 60 months for this offense type in all 94 districts. Only 12% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Kidnapping Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
12 people were sentenced for kidnapping in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2017 to 2025, and all 12 received a prison term. The median was 309.5 months (25.8 years). For all 94 federal districts, the median kidnapping term was 155 months.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
13 people were sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2017 to 2025. 12 of them (92%) received a prison term, with a median of 15 months. All 13 pleaded guilty.
Federal Arson Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
All 16 people sentenced for arson in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 37 months (3.1 years). For all 94 federal districts, the median arson term was 60 months.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
17 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the District of South Dakota in the fiscal year 2016 to 2025 data. 12 of the 17 (71%) received a prison term, with a median of 14 months. 10 people (59%) received a sentence below the guideline range without a government request.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
In the District of South Dakota, 23 people were sentenced for drug possession offenses in the data for fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 11 of the 23 (48%) received a prison term, and 11 (48%) received probation only. The median prison term for those sent to prison was 3 months.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
Of the 28 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 17 (61%) received probation only and 9 (32%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 6 months, compared with 5 months across all 94 federal districts. A fine was ordered for
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for the 45 people sentenced for money laundering in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 was 168 months (14 years). Across all 94 federal districts the median for this offense type was 40 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 23 of the 45 people (51%).
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
The District of South Dakota sentenced 49 people for stalking or harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 46 (94%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 33 months (2.8 years). That is higher than the 24 months for this offense type across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Murder Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
51 people were sentenced for murder in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 51 received a prison term. The median was 240 months (20 years), the same as across all 94 federal districts. 7 people received a life sentence, and 24% of sentences were above the guideline ran
Federal Burglary and Trespass Sentences in the District of South Dakota, FY2016–2025
All 52 people sentenced for burglary or trespass in the District of South Dakota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty, and 50 (96%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 13.5 months, lower than the 18 months across all 94 federal districts. All 52 cases used one guideline, the on
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