Battery in Broward County, Florida
823 cases (2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Broward County resolved 823 battery cases with an exceptionally high dismissal rate. At 8.3%, dismissals were nearly three times the statewide battery average of 2.8%, indicating a prosecutorial or judicial orientation toward dropping charges. Withheld adjudications were also notably prevalent at 33.0%—far exceeding the statewide average of 17.9%—while 53.9% of cases resulted in guilty verdicts. Diversion programs were underutilized at 3.6% compared to the statewide average of 10.2%.
Defendants convicted or receiving withheld adjudication faced substantial sentences: an average of 592 days with a median of 314 days, plus extended probation averaging 1,294 days. Prison sentences were imposed on 13.6% of defendants and jail sentences on 28.3%. The extended probation term was notably high, suggesting the State Attorney's office emphasized post-conviction supervision.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Battery charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 23,104 prosecutor decisions on Battery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 57.7% — above the 53.9% 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 — 53.9% of 823 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 823 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 | 737 | 6.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 283 | 3.8 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Battery 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 | 485 | 59.8% | 6.8% |
| Not Available | 328 | 45.1% | 10.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 812 | 47.5% | 3.1% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2024 | 972 | 52.8% | 5.3% | 1 year, 5 months |
| 2025 | 823 | 53.9% | 8.3% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1,302 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 885 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 343 |
| Felony | First Degree | 77 |
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% |
| Fraud | 976 | 55.2% | 3.3% |
| DUI | 839 | 81.0% | 2.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Battery in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 53.9% based on 823 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Battery in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 33.0% 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 Battery in Broward County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 8 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). Battery in Broward County, Florida (2025). Based on 823 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/battery/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 · 823 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com