Assault in Broward County, Florida
338 cases (2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, assault defendants in Broward County were convicted in 47.9 percent of 338 cases, with adjudication withheld in 44.4 percent—dramatically above the statewide average of 22.2 percent. Broward stands out sharply: dismissals occurred in 6.2 percent of cases, far exceeding the statewide average of 2.4 percent. Conversely, only 0.6 percent of cases resolved through pre-trial diversion, the lowest rate observed. This profile reflects a prosecutorial approach that frequently withholds adjudication when guilt is established, preserving defendants' records while securing probation.
Probation averaged an unusually high 1,131 days, extended compared to other counties. The median sentence was 364 days with an average of 702 days. Prison was imposed in only 15.4 percent of cases, the lowest observed, while jail was used in 22.5 percent. These patterns indicate Broward favors probation-based outcomes over incarceration.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Assault charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 4,723 prosecutor decisions on Assault charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 44.9% — in line with the 47.7% 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 — 47.9% of 338 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 338 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 214 | 6.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 153 | 3.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Assault sentencing in Broward County.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 218 | 51.8% | 6.0% |
| Not Available | 119 | 41.2% | 6.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 215 | 53.0% | 0.9% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2024 | 290 | 58.6% | 4.1% | 1 year, 9 months |
| 2025 | 338 | 47.9% | 6.2% | 1 year, 11 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 552 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 198 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 52 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 41 |
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 Assault in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 47.9% based on 338 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Assault in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 44.4% 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 Assault in Broward County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 11 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Assault in Broward County, Florida (2025). Based on 338 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/assault/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 · 338 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com