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 Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 95 people were sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 95 (100%) received a prison term, with a median of 228 months (19 years). The median across all 94 districts was 180 months. For all offenses in this district, it was 42 months.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 130 people were sentenced for bribery and corruption offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 85 (65%) received a prison term, with a median of 15 months, and 38 (29%) received probation only. In all 94 districts, the median was 18 months.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 162 people were sentenced for money laundering in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 150 (93%) received a prison term, with a median of 41.5 months (3.5 years). The all-district median was 40 months. For all offenses in this district, it was 42 months.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 174 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 110 (63%) received a prison term, with a median of 12 months, and 50 (29%) received probation only. Only 14 people (8%) were sentenced within the guideline range.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 374 people were sentenced for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 367 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 18 months, which is higher than the all-district median of 7 months. Immigration cases were 6% of the district'
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 551 people were sentenced for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 541 (98%) received a prison term, with a median of 70 months (5.8 years). The median across all 94 districts was 90 months. For all offenses in the district, it was 42 months.
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 1,180 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 1,129 (96%) received a prison term, with a median of 46 months (3.8 years). The median across all 94 districts was 42 months. Firearms cases were 19% of the district's 6,211
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Illinois, 1,319 people were sentenced for fraud, theft, and embezzlement offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of them, 999 (76%) received a prison term, with a median of 21 months, and 257 (19%) received probation only. Restitution was ordered for 1,138 people (86%).
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of Illinois, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking cases were 27% of the 6,211 people sentenced in the Northern District of Illinois in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 1,701 people sentenced for drug trafficking, 1,662 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 60 months (5 years), the same as the median across all 9
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Western District of Tennessee, FY2016–2025
Of 13 people sentenced under the Commission's offense type "Other" in the Western District of Tennessee, 7 (54%) received a prison term and 4 (31%) received probation only. The median prison term was 36 months. In all 94 federal districts, 38% of these cases ended in prison.
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the Western District of Tennessee, FY2016–2025
Of the 15 people sentenced for individual rights offenses in the Western District of Tennessee, 12 (80%) received a sentence below the guideline range at the government's request. The median prison term was 96 months (8 years), compared with 30 months in all 94 federal districts.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Western District of Tennessee, FY2016–2025
Of the 16 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the Western District of Tennessee in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, only 1 (6%) received a prison term. Another 15 (94%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts, 28% of environmental cases ended in prison.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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