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 Drug Trafficking Sentences in the District of Minnesota, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was the largest offense type in the District of Minnesota in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,315 people, or 36% of the 3,630 sentenced. The median prison term was 87 months (7.2 years), which is higher than the 60 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts together. A man
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
6 of the 10 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2023 (60%) received probation only. 2 (20%) were sent to prison, with a median prison term of 1.5 months. For all 94 federal districts, 28% were sent to prison.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
Restitution was ordered for 12 of the 14 people (86%) sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2018 to 2025. 9 people (64%) received a prison term, with a median of 6.4 months. For all 94 federal districts, the median was 17.6 mon
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
15 of the 18 people sentenced under the Commission's "Other" offense type in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (83%) received probation only. 2 people (11%) received a prison term, with a median of 3 months. All 18 pleaded guilty.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
17 of the 18 people sentenced for stalking or harassment offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term (94%). The median prison term was 24 months (2 years), the same as the median for all 94 federal districts. In this district, 50% of sentences were w
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
In the Southern District of Iowa, 71% of the 24 people sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a sentence below the guideline range without a government request. Across all 94 federal districts, 24% of tax sentences were within the range. In this district, 18 of the 24 peopl
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 26 people were sentenced in the Southern District of Iowa for administration of justice offenses. 16 of them (62%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 11 months. Across all 94 federal districts, 72% of people in this offense type were sent to prison a
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
31 people were sentenced for money laundering in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 28 (90%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 50 months (4.2 years). Across all 94 federal districts, the median was 40 months and 88% of people were sent to prison.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
Of 55 people sentenced under the offense type "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 51 were sentenced under the guideline for failure to register as a sex offender. 54 (98%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 30 months (2.5
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
60 people were sentenced for robbery in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 59 (98%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 84 months (7 years). Across all 94 federal districts, the median for robbery was 90 months, which is higher.
Federal Assault Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
All 67 people sentenced for assault offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median was 152 months (12.7 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 federal districts. 17 of the 67 were convicted after a trial.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
67 people were sentenced under the offense type "Prison Offenses" in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 67 pleaded guilty, and 64 (96%) received a prison term with a median of 12.5 months. 87% of the guilty pleas were straight pleas with no written plea agreement.
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