Out of 100 people sentenced in US federal court, how many pleaded guilty instead of going to trial?

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98% of the people sentenced in US federal court in 2025 pleaded guilty. Only 1,563 of the 66,662 went to trial. Pleading earns a sentencing reduction the guidelines call acceptance of responsibility, and its largest tier goes only to defendants who plead early enough that prosecutors never have to prepare for trial.

Only 2% of people sentenced in US federal court in 2025 went to trial. The other 98% pleaded guilty.

Source: US Sentencing Commission · checked Sep 2025