Assault in Hillsborough County, Florida
621 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County's assault cases showed notably different patterns than rural counties. The county achieved substantial diversion—15.5% of cases, more than triple the statewide average of 5.1%—indicating robust pre-trial intervention programs. The guilty rate of 48.6% was lower than many counties, with an additional 22.2% withheld adjudication (matching statewide average) and 1.1% acquittals. Dismissals occurred in 2.9% of cases, aligning with statewide norms.
Sentencing among confined defendants was moderate. The median was 364 days, with an average of 598 days. Prison and jail were used less frequently than diversion and withheld outcomes, at 18.4% and 20.5% respectively. The county showed 83.6% private attorney representation, reflecting an urban, more affluent defendant population compared to rural counties relying heavily on public defenders.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Assault charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 3,504 prosecutor decisions on Assault charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 52.1% — 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 — 48.6% of 621 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 621 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) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 374 | 6.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 353 | 3.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Assault sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Assault in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 48.6% based on 621 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Assault in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 22.2% 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 Assault in Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 8 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
16.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 83.6% 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 | 314 | 46.5% | 3.8% |
| Black | 288 | 52.4% | 2.1% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 499 | 58.7% | 5.0% | 1 year, 11 months |
| 2024 | 569 | 52.0% | 4.2% | 2.3 years |
| 2025 | 621 | 48.6% | 2.9% | 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 | 1,190 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 257 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 137 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 99 |
| Felony | First Degree | 6 |
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). Assault in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 621 public court records; last updated September 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 · 621 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com