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 Robbery Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Pennsylvania, 139 people were sentenced for robbery in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, and 136 (98%) received a prison term. The median prison term was 63 months, lower than the median of 90 months across all 94 districts for this offense type.
Federal Money Laundering Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Of 159 people sentenced for money laundering in the Western District of Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 123 (77%) received a prison term, with a median of 36 months. The 7 people convicted after a trial had a median prison term of 216 months.
Federal Child Pornography Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Pennsylvania, 203 people were sentenced for child pornography (images of child exploitation) offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 202 received a prison term, and the median prison term was 74.5 months. That is lower than the median of 90 months across all 94 fe
Federal Firearms Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
In the Western District of Pennsylvania, 632 people were sentenced for firearms offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Of those, 92% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 44 months. The 17 people convicted after a trial had a median prison term of 100 months, compared with 41 months
Federal Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Of 650 people sentenced for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in the Western District of Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, 62% received a prison term, with a median of 18 months. Restitution was ordered for 517 (80%), and 153 (24%) received probation only.
Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences in the Western District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Drug trafficking was the largest offense type in the Western District of Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2016 to 2025. It accounted for 2,094 of the 4,460 people sentenced (47%). Of those 2,094, 91% received a prison term, and the median prison term was 60 months, the same as across all 94 districts.
Federal Environmental Offense Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Of 19 people sentenced for environmental offenses in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 13 (68%) received probation only, and 6 (32%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 6 was 12 months. The data for this offense type covers fiscal years 2018 to 2025.
Federal Murder Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
All 19 people sentenced for murder offenses in the Middle District of Pennsylvania received a prison term. The median prison term was 300 months (25 years), and 8 people received a life sentence. The data for this offense type covers fiscal years 2017 to 2025.
Federal Bribery and Corruption Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Among 23 people sentenced for bribery and corruption offenses in the Middle District of Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2016 to 2025, only 4 (17%) received a sentence within the guideline range. The other sentences were mostly below it. 17 (74%) received a prison term, with a median of 24 months (2 yea
Federal Other Offense Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
Of 26 people sentenced in the Middle District of Pennsylvania under the Sentencing Commission's "Other" offense type, 20 (77%) received probation only, and 4 (15%) received a prison term. The median prison term for those 4 was 4.5 months. All 26 pleaded guilty.
Federal Stalking and Harassment Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 38 of 39 people (97%) sentenced for stalking and harassing offenses in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 received a prison term. The median prison term was 21 months. The median after a trial was 150 months, based on only 3 people.
Federal Forgery, Counterfeiting, and Copyright Sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, FY2016–2025
All 44 people sentenced for forgery, counterfeiting, and copyright offenses in the Middle District of Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2016 to 2025 pleaded guilty. Of the 44, 34 (77%) received a prison term, with a median prison term of 14.6 months. Restitution was ordered for 37 (84%).
Go deeper: Military Trial Results (every case, members) · Know Your Judge · Learn Your Lawyer (free)
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