Arson in Broward County, Florida
21 cases (2023-2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Broward County's arson outcomes show a strong lean toward conviction or withheld adjudication. The 42.9% withheld rate far exceeds the statewide average of 10.3%, meaning judges frequently find guilt but withhold formal adjudication. The combined guilty and withheld rate of 90.5% reflects aggressive prosecution, though the 9.5% dismissal rate runs above statewide average of 2.3%, suggesting some cases don't survive scrutiny.
Defendants convicted or withheld face substantial consequences. Average sentences reach 1,544 days with probation averaging 1,278 days. About 38% receive prison time, while 10% serve jail time. The median sentence of 1,157 days indicates that mid-range cases carry years of incarceration.
Figures cover 21 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Arson charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 74 prosecutor decisions on Arson charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 43.2% — above the 30.3% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 47.6% of 21 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 21 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 8 | 4.8 years |
| County Jail | 2 | 1 year, 10 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Arson sentencing in Broward County.
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 15 | 33.3% | 13.3% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 16.7% | 16.7% | 3.5 years |
| 2025 | 13 | 69.2% | 7.7% | 4.4 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 9 |
| Felony | First Degree | 7 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Broward County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,520 | 22.1% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,161 | 62.6% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 2,012 | 54.5% | 12.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,556 | 52.6% | 5.3% |
| Trespassing | 1,337 | 55.9% | 4.7% |
| Other | 1,326 | 32.6% | 32.9% |
| Battery | 823 | 53.9% | 8.3% |
| Fraud | 976 | 55.2% | 3.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Arson in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 47.6% based on 21 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Arson in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 42.9% of cases (2023-2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Arson in Broward County?
The average sentence is 4.2 years (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Arson in Broward County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 21 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/arson/broward
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Broward County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 21 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com