Battery in Hernando County, Florida
441 cases (2025) · Hernando County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hernando County processed 441 battery cases with a 54.2% guilty rate and 17.0% withheld adjudication—a disposition where guilt is found but conviction is not recorded. The county's diversion rate of 21.5% significantly exceeds the statewide average of 10.2%, meaning defendants here have greater access to programs avoiding conviction. Dismissals at 2.3% remain slightly below the state average of 2.8%.
Sentences are substantial: defendants average 564 days in custody with median terms of 244 days, plus 611 days probation. Confinement splits between jail (30.4%) and prison (12.5%). The median-to-average gap suggests a mix of minor and serious batteries; longer sentences reflect aggravated cases. Most defendants rely on public defenders (58.3%).
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Battery charge in Hernando County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,049 prosecutor decisions on Battery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 35.7% — below 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 — 54.2% of 441 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 441 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 | 469 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 153 | 3.4 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 8.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Battery sentencing in Hernando 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 | 350 | 53.1% | 2.0% |
| Black | 71 | 64.8% | 4.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 489 | 58.9% | 0.6% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 400 | 57.8% | 0.8% | 11.5 months |
| 2025 | 441 | 54.2% | 2.3% | 1 year, 7 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 | 807 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 483 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 32 |
| Felony | First Degree | 8 |
Related Charges in Hernando County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,104 | 70.0% | 2.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 601 | 52.7% | 1.3% |
| Traffic Offense | 839 | 73.8% | 0.4% |
| Other | 419 | 63.0% | 2.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 286 | 75.5% | 1.0% |
| Trespassing | 228 | 88.2% | 1.3% |
| DUI | 226 | 97.3% | 0.4% |
| Burglary | 151 | 84.8% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Battery in Hernando County?
The guilty rate is 54.2% based on 441 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Battery in Hernando County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.0% 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 Hernando County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 7 months, with an average fine of $248 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
58.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Battery in Hernando County, Florida (2025). Based on 441 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/battery/hernando
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hernando 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 · 441 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com