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 Southern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
Firearms offenses were 20% of the 5,580 people sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 1,101 people sentenced for firearms offenses, 1,010 (92%) received a prison term, with a median of 32 months, compared with 42 months in all 94 federal districts.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Southern District of Ohio, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking cases made up 36% of the 5,580 people sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of the 2,020 people sentenced for drug trafficking, 1,918 (95%) received a prison term, and the median was 50.5 months (4.2 years).
Federal Arson Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
In the Eastern District of Kentucky, 10 people were sentenced for arson offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. All 10 received a prison term, and the median prison term was 60 months (5 years). That is the same median as for arson cases in all 94 federal districts together.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
12 people were sentenced for environmental offenses in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2022. 4 of them (33%) received a prison term and 5 (42%) received probation only. In all 94 federal districts, 28% of people in this offense type were sent to prison.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
14 people were sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, or copyright offenses in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2017 to 2024. All 14 pleaded guilty and all received a prison term, with a median of 19.5 months, compared with 17.6 months in all 94 federal districts.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
16 people were sentenced in the Commission's catch-all "Other" offense type in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 7 of them (44%) received a prison term, and 6 (38%) received probation only. All 16 pleaded guilty.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
17 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" type in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 16 had the failure-to-register guideline as the primary guideline. The median prison term was 26 months, compared with 18 months in all 94 federal di
Federal Murder Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
17 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Murder" offense type in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 360 months (30 years), compared with 240 months in all 94 federal districts. 5 people received a life sentence.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
22 people were sentenced for tax offenses in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 18 of them (82%) received a prison term, and restitution was ordered for all 22 (100%). The median prison term was 20 months, compared with 15.1 months in all 94 federal districts.
Federal Commercialized Vice Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
24 people were sentenced in the Commission's "Commercialized Vice" offense type in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2022 to 2025. 79% received a prison term, with a median of 6 months, compared with 18 months in all 94 federal districts. Most cases used the gambling guideline.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
Every one of the 24 people sentenced for stalking or harassing in the Eastern District of Kentucky, fiscal years 2016 to 2025, pleaded guilty. The median prison term was 24 months, which is also the median for the offense type across all 94 federal districts.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Eastern District of Kentucky, FY2016–2025
29 people were sentenced for bribery and corruption in the Eastern District of Kentucky in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. 27 of them (93%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months, compared with 18 months for the same offense type in all 94 federal districts.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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