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 Child Pornography Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of North Carolina, 189 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 96 months, compared with 90 months in all 94 districts. Of the 189, 154 (81%) received supervised release for li
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of North Carolina, 217 of the 218 people sentenced for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 114 months, or 9.5 years, compared with 90 months for robbery in all 94 districts. Robbery cases were 4% of the district's 4,904 sent
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
The U.S. Sentencing Commission counted 491 people sentenced for immigration offenses in the Western District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 8 months, compared with 7 months in all 94 districts. Most plea agreements were not written: 82% of guilty pleas wer
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
From fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2025, 552 people were sentenced in the Western District of North Carolina for fraud, theft, or embezzlement. Of those, 429 (78%) received a prison term, with a median of 28 months, and 74 (13%) received probation only. The median for this offense type in all
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of North Carolina, 69% of the 1,063 people sentenced for firearms offenses from fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2025 received a sentence within the guideline range. The median prison term was 46 months, compared with 42 months for firearms offenses in all 94 districts. F
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Western District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was the largest offense type in the Western District of North Carolina from fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2025: 1,639 people, or 33% of the 4,904 people sentenced. The median prison term was 85.5 months, compared with 60 months for drug trafficking in all 94 districts. Of the
Federal Murder Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
The Middle District of North Carolina sentenced 14 people for murder in fiscal years 2017 to 2024, and 2 of them received a life sentence. The median prison term was 370 months (30.8 years), compared with 240 months in all 94 districts. Of the 14, 12 (86%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Prison Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 14 people sentenced in the "Prison Offenses" category in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty and were sent to prison. The median prison term was 20.5 months, which is longer than the 10 months for all 94 districts. Escape was the primary guideline fo
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
The Middle District of North Carolina sentenced 15 people in the stalking and harassing offense type in fiscal years 2016 to 2024. Of them, 10 (67%) went to prison for a median of 19.5 months, which is lower than the 24 months for all 94 districts. Every one of the 15 pleaded guilty.
Federal Administration of Justice Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In fiscal years 2016 to 2025, the Middle District of North Carolina sentenced 16 people in the administration of justice offense type. A prison term went to 11 (69%), and 4 (25%) received probation only. The median prison term was 21 months, longer than the 12 months for all 94 districts.
Federal Obscenity and Other Sex Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
Of the 18 people sentenced in the Middle District of North Carolina under the offense type "Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses" in fiscal years 2016 to 2024, 16 had failure to register as a sex offender as the primary guideline. The median prison term was 24 months, and all 18 pleaded guilty.
Federal Individual Rights Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, 13 of the 19 people sentenced for individual rights offenses in fiscal years 2017 to 2024 (68%) received probation only. Only 3 (16%) went to prison, with a median of 71 months. For all 94 districts, 68% were sent to prison.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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