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 Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
All 173 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 240 months (20 years), compared with 180 months across all 94 federal districts. 5 people received a life sentence.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
217 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 156 (72%) received a prison term, and 44 (20%) received probation only. The median prison term was 18 months, compared with 20 months across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
260 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 258 (more than 99%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 120 months (10 years). Across all 94 federal districts, the median for thi
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
293 people were sentenced for immigration offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 7% of the 4,208 people sentenced in the district. 290 (99%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 8 months. For all 94 federal districts, the median was 7 month
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
935 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, which is 22% of the 4,208 people sentenced in the district. 900 (96%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 53 months (4.4 years), compared with 42 months across all 94 federal
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Southern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was 45% of the 4,208 people sentenced in the Southern District of Iowa in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 1,895 people were sentenced for it, and 1,869 (99%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 120 months (10 years), compared with 60 months across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
The Northern District of Iowa sentenced 11 people for stalking and harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2023, and all 11 received a prison term. The median was 55.5 months (4.6 years), compared with 24 months for all 94 federal districts. 2 of the 11 were convicted after a trial.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
The Northern District of Iowa sentenced 13 people for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2023. Of the 13, 11 (85%) received a prison term, with a median of 15 months, compared with 15.1 months for all 94 federal districts. Only 15% were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
The Northern District of Iowa sentenced 14 people for drug possession in fiscal years 2019 to 2022. Of the 14, 9 (64%) received a prison term and 4 (29%) received probation only. The median prison term was 5.4 months, compared with 6 months for all 94 federal districts.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Iowa, 22 people were sentenced for administration of justice offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 21 (95%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 16 months, compared with 12 months for all 94 federal districts. Prison was more common here than in the all
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
Of the 24 people sentenced in the Northern District of Iowa under the Commission's "Other" offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 16 (67%) received a prison term and 7 (29%) received probation only. The median prison term was 10.5 months. All 24 pleaded guilty.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Iowa, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Iowa, 26 of the 27 people sentenced for obscenity and other sex offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 had failure to register as a sex offender as the primary guideline. The median prison term was 24 months, compared with 18 months for all 94 federal districts.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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