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 Immigration Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Georgia, FY2016–2025
960 people were sentenced for immigration offenses in the Northern District of Georgia in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 920 (96%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 6.4 months, compared with 7 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. 953 of the 960 pleaded guilty.
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Northern District of Georgia, FY2016–2025
1,014 people were sentenced in the Northern District of Georgia for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. 821 (81%) received a prison term, and the median prison term was 28 months. Restitution was ordered for 858 people (85%).
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Northern District of Georgia, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Georgia, 1,339 people were sentenced for drug trafficking in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 98% of them (1,308) received a prison term. The median prison term was 78 months, compared with 60 months for this offense type across all 94 districts. 62% of sentences (824) were
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Counterfeit currency dominated the forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright cases in the Northern District of Alabama. §2B5.1 (Offenses Involving Counterfeit Bearer Obligations of the United States) was the primary guideline for 14 of the 15 people sentenced in fiscal years 2018 to 2025. Of the 15, 11
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
All 25 people sentenced for administration of justice offenses in the Northern District of Alabama pleaded guilty, so no one in this group was convicted after a trial. Of the 25, 16 (64%) received a prison term, with a median of 13.5 months. The cases cover fiscal years 2016 to 2024.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Of 28 people sentenced for bribery or corruption offenses in the Northern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 22 (79%) received a prison term, with a median of 22.5 months. Only 8 (29%) were sentenced within the guideline range, and no one received a mandatory minimum prison term.
Federal Assault Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Among the 21 people sent to prison for federal assault offenses in the Northern District of Alabama in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the median prison term was 64 months (5.3 years). That is higher than the district's median of 46 months for all offenses. In all, 29 people were sentenced for assault, a
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Nearly all federal "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" cases in the Northern District of Alabama involved one guideline. §2A3.5 (Failure to Register as a Sex Offender) was the primary guideline for 28 of the 29 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2022. Of the 29, 28 (97%) received a prison term, and
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Alabama, 35 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 22 (63%) received a prison term with a median of 24 months, and restitution was ordered for 33 (94%). The most common guideline was §2T1.1 (Tax Evasion), the primary guideline for 2
Federal Drug Possession Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
Most people sentenced for federal drug possession in the Northern District of Alabama did not go to prison. Of 46 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 41 (89%) received probation only and 3 (7%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 3 people was 3 months.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
In the Northern District of Alabama, 68 people were sentenced for money laundering offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 74% received a prison term, with a median prison term of 43.8 months, and 93% pleaded guilty. Sentences below the guideline range at the government's request were the m
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Northern District of Alabama, FY2016–2025
The median prison term for sexual abuse offenses in the Northern District of Alabama was 240 months (20 years), compared with 180 months for this offense type in all 94 federal districts. The records cover 74 people sentenced in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and all 74 received a prison term. A mandato
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