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 Kidnapping Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 26 people sentenced for kidnapping in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2017 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 174 months (14.5 years), compared with 155 months for kidnapping in all 94 districts. Of the 26, 25 (96%) pleaded guilty.
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, 38 people were sentenced for offenses in the Sentencing Commission's "Other" category in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 30 (79%) received a prison term, with a median of 36 months. For all 94 districts, only 38% were sent to prison, and the median was
Federal Sexual Abuse Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 51 people sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term, with a median of 240 months (20 years). For all 94 districts the median was 180 months. A mandatory minimum applied to 39 of the 51 people (76%).
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
Only 10 of the 53 people sentenced for money laundering in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 (19%) received a sentence within the guideline range. Most were sentenced below it, and 28 of them (53%) at the government's request. The median prison term was 60 months.
Federal Tax Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, 55 people were sentenced for tax offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and restitution was ordered for all 55 (100%). A prison term went to 46 (84%), with a median of 18 months, compared with 15.1 months in all 94 districts.
Federal Assault Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
The 56 people sentenced for assault in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 all received a prison term. The median prison term was 119.5 months (10 years), compared with 42 months for assault in all 94 districts. Assault cases were 1% of the district's 3,816 sentences.
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
All 146 people sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 84 months (7 years), compared with 90 months for all 94 districts. A mandatory minimum appli
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, 159 of the 225 people sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement (71%) received a prison term in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. The median prison term was 26 months, compared with 20 months in all 94 districts. Another 52 people (23%) received probation only.
Federal Immigration Offense Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, the median prison term for the 241 people sentenced for immigration offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 was 16 months. For immigration cases in all 94 districts, the median was 7 months. Of the 241 people, 224 (93%) received a prison term.
Federal Robbery Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
Of the 302 people sentenced for robbery in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 297 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 92 months, compared with 90 months for robbery in all 94 districts. Robbery was 8% of the district's 3,816 sentences.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of North Carolina, 42% of the 1,116 people sentenced for drug trafficking in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 had a mandatory minimum prison term apply. The median prison term was 78 months, compared with 60 months for drug trafficking in all 94 districts. The 13 people convicted aft
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Middle District of North Carolina, FY2016–2025
Firearms cases were 36% of the 3,816 people sentenced in the Middle District of North Carolina in fiscal years 2016 to 2025: 1,372 people. The median prison term for those sent to prison was 58 months, compared with 42 months for firearms cases in all 94 districts. Of the 1,372, 98% pleaded guilty.
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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