Arson in Hillsborough County, Florida
32 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, arson in Hillsborough County resulted in a 56.2% guilty rate. The 6.2% dismissal rate exceeded the statewide average of 2.3%, suggesting prosecutors faced stronger defense challenges. However, the withheld rate of 6.2% fell below the statewide 10.4%, while the 12.5% diversion rate far exceeded the statewide 2.4%. This pattern indicates Hillsborough's State Attorney prioritized diversion pathways for arson cases meeting certain criteria, common in property-crime prosecution.
Convicted defendants faced a median sentence of 685 days, with average sentences of 1,516 days among confined cases. Prison accounted for 37.5% of confinement, jail for 21.9%. Probation averaged 1,887 days, structuring reentry for most. The 78.1% private counsel rate reflects arson's standing as a serious felony, though the 21.9% public defender rate shows the resource burden remains.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Arson charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 77 prosecutor decisions on Arson charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 32.5% — in line with 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 56.2% of 32 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 32 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 25 | 4.4 years |
| County Jail | 12 | 9.7 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Arson sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Arson in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 56.2% based on 32 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Arson in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 6.2% of cases (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 Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.2 years (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
21.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 78.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Demographics (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 18 | 66.7% | 5.6% |
| Black | 14 | 42.9% | 7.1% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 50.0% | 0.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2024 | 15 | 60.0% | 0.0% | 2.4 years |
| 2025 | 32 | 56.2% | 6.2% | 4.2 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | First Degree | 28 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 25 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 5 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 1 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,131 | 50.7% | 9.1% |
| Drug Possession | 6,203 | 72.4% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,598 | 68.8% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,442 | 85.7% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.6% |
| Battery | 3,194 | 50.4% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,875 | 69.5% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,542 | 74.3% | 1.9% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Arson in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 32 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/arson/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough 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 · 32 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com