For all I know, cases concerning state secrets might be prosecuted without public disclosure of the details of the case. Or perhaps there is a huge database of similar cases. I have no idea.
I do know for sure that the penalties for mishandling classified information are taught to those tasked with handling such materials and acknowledged as part of the vetting process. You might make the argument that those laws are not to be taken seriously, and put into the code of law as sort of a joke. You could ask Chelsea manning about that.
Personally, I handle classified materials absolutely by the book. Because of that, I will likely never find out what price I would personally pay for passing classified materials to anyone unauthorized to receive them. Since those laws exist, I have to assume that I would be punished for breaking them.
Here is one such law, 18 USC 793 (f,g).
(f)
Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code
book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in
violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer—Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(g)
If two or more persons conspire to violate any of the foregoing provisions of this section, and
one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be subject to the punishment provided for the offense which is the object of such conspiracy.
