Arson in Broward County, Florida
22 cases (2023-2025) · Broward County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In 2023-2025, Broward County's arson outcomes showed significant variation compared to statewide patterns. The 9.1% dismissal rate substantially exceeded the statewide average of 2.3%, while the 40.9% withheld rate was also notably higher than the statewide rate of 10.4%. Combined with a 50% guilty rate, these numbers reflect diverse case resolutions, with over 90% of charges resulting in either conviction or withheld adjudication. In Florida, withheld adjudication means the judge found guilt but did not enter a formal conviction, leaving no permanent record.
Sentencing for those convicted or confined was substantial. Among the 50% receiving confinement (prison or jail), the median sentence was 1,218 days—over three years—with an average of 1,570 days approaching four and a half years. Prison accounted for 40.9% of confined outcomes, jail for 9.1%. These sentences reflect the serious nature of arson charges and prosecution priorities in the county.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 22 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 30.6% 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 — 50.0% of 22 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 22 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 9 | 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 16.7% | 16.7% | 3.5 years |
| 2025 | 14 | 71.4% | 7.1% | 4.5 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 10 |
| 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 | 6,643 | 22.2% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,223 | 62.6% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 2,033 | 54.5% | 12.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,592 | 52.6% | 5.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,381 | 55.9% | 4.6% |
| Other | 1,341 | 33.0% | 32.5% |
| Battery | 830 | 54.1% | 8.4% |
| Fraud | 992 | 55.0% | 3.2% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Arson in Broward County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 22 public court records; last updated September 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 · 22 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com