Arson in Miami-Dade County, Florida
30 cases (2025) · Miami-Dade County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, arson defendants in Miami-Dade County were convicted in 60.0 percent of 30 cases, with adjudication withheld in 13.3 percent—above the statewide average of 10.1 percent. Miami-Dade's most striking feature is its exceptionally high pre-trial diversion rate of 23.3 percent, far exceeding the statewide average of 2.5 percent. This indicates the State Attorney's office uses diversion programs aggressively for arson cases. Dismissals occurred in 3.3 percent of cases, slightly above the statewide rate of 2.3 percent.
Sentenced defendants received a median of 945 days and an average of 1,094 days, with probation averaging 1,522 days and fines averaging $460. Prison was imposed in 36.7 percent of cases, while jail was used in 16.7 percent. Defense representation was more balanced than some counties, with 46.7 percent using private counsel and 43.3 percent represented by public defenders.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Arson charge in Miami-Dade County makes it in front of a judge. Of 246 prosecutor decisions on Arson charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 41.9% — 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 60.0% of 30 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 30 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 | 46 | 7.6 years |
| County Jail | 14 | 10.6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Arson sentencing in Miami-Dade County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Arson in Miami-Dade County?
The guilty rate is 60.0% based on 30 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Arson in Miami-Dade County?
Adjudication is withheld in 13.3% 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 Miami-Dade County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 3.0 years, with an average fine of $460 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
43.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 46.7% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 22 | 59.1% | 4.5% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29 | 79.3% | 0.0% | 6.6 years |
| 2024 | 31 | 77.4% | 6.5% | 7.7 years |
| 2025 | 30 | 60.0% | 3.3% | 3.0 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | First Degree | 48 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 36 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 6 |
Related Charges in Miami-Dade County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 4,568 | 20.8% | 47.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 4,727 | 65.2% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 2,849 | 65.8% | 0.7% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,016 | 52.2% | 2.1% |
| Battery | 1,905 | 46.0% | 1.9% |
| Burglary | 1,192 | 69.1% | 1.0% |
| Fraud | 1,417 | 40.0% | 0.5% |
| Traffic Offense | 1,104 | 56.7% | 5.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Arson in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2025). Based on 30 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/arson/miami-dade
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Miami-Dade 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 · 30 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com