Assault in Hillsborough County, Florida
622 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County handled 622 assault cases with outcomes notably different from the statewide average. The dismissal rate of 3.1% was slightly above the statewide average of 2.4%, but the most distinctive pattern was the diversion rate of 16.7%—more than three times the statewide rate of 5.2%—indicating that local prosecutors frequently offered alternatives to conviction. The withheld adjudication rate of 21.5% was slightly below the statewide average of 22.2%, and guilty verdicts accounted for 47.4% of outcomes.
Defendants convicted or receiving withheld adjudications faced substantial sentencing: the average sentence was 597 days with a median of 364 days, plus an average of 912 probation days. About 18% received prison sentences and 20% received jail time. Most defendants (80.5%) were represented by private attorneys, reflecting the county's economic composition.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Assault charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 3,473 prosecutor decisions on Assault charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 52.5% — above 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 — 47.4% of 622 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 622 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 | 368 | 6.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 350 | 3.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Assault sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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 | 319 | 45.5% | 3.8% |
| Black | 284 | 51.4% | 2.5% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 499 | 58.7% | 5.0% | 1 year, 11 months |
| 2024 | 564 | 51.4% | 4.3% | 2.3 years |
| 2025 | 622 | 47.4% | 3.1% | 1 year, 8 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 | 1,195 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 256 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 131 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 98 |
| Felony | First Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Drug Possession | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Assault in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 47.4% based on 622 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Assault in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 21.5% 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 Hillsborough County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 8 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
19.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 80.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Assault in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 622 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/assault/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 · 622 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com