Battery in Okeechobee County, Florida

131 cases (2025) · Okeechobee County courts

In 2025, battery defendants in Okeechobee County experienced the highest dismissal rate among Florida's battery cases. Among 131 cases, 76.3% resulted in guilty findings, 13.0% in withheld adjudication, and 8.4% in dismissals—5.5 percentage points above the statewide 2.9% average. However, this dismissal advantage was offset by zero diversion cases, compared to 9.8% statewide, indicating this circuit resolved cases through conviction or dismissal rather than alternative programming.

Confined convictions averaged 638 days with a median of 336 days, among the longer medians. Prison sentences were imposed in 20.6% of cases and jail in 40.5%, a combined 61.1% incarceration rate—the highest among battery counties. Probation averaged 513 days, the shortest among reviewed counties. The average fine of $387.50 was notably elevated. Public defenders represented 59.5%, with 14.5% retaining private counsel.

Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.

131
Total Cases (2025)
76.3%
Guilty Rate
13.0%
Withheld Rate
8.4%
Dismissal Rate
vs 2.9% statewide, 2025
1 year, 9 months
Avg Sentence (confined)

Not every Battery charge in Okeechobee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 483 prosecutor decisions on Battery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 24.0% — below the 53.8% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.

Filed for prosecution
68.5% (331)
Declined to file
0.0% (0)
Dropped after filing
23.6% (114)
Administratively dismissed
0.4% (2)
Pre-trial diversion
7.5% (36)

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.

I Outcomes

Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)

Guilty
76.3% (100)
Withheld
13.0% (17)
Diversion
0.0% (0)
Dismissed
8.4% (11)
Acquitted
1.5% (2)

Largest outcomeGuilty — 76.3% of 131 cases.

Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 131 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com

II Sentencing

Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)

1 year, 9 months
Avg Sentence (confined)
11.2 months
Median Sentence
1 year, 5 months
Avg Probation
$388
Avg Fine
20.6%
Prison Rate
40.5%
Jail Rate

Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).

Confinement Type Count Avg Sentence (confined)
County Jail 164 4.9 months
State Prison Facility 53 4.0 years
III Getting Help

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What is the guilty rate for Battery in Okeechobee County?

The guilty rate is 76.3% based on 131 cases (2025).

How often is adjudication withheld for Battery in Okeechobee County?

Adjudication is withheld in 13.0% 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 Okeechobee County?

Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 9 months, with an average fine of $388 (2025).

What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?

59.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 14.5% retain private counsel (2025).

IV Full Data
78
Public Defender
78.2% guilty · 5.1% dismissed
19
Private Attorney
68.4% guilty · 15.8% dismissed
6
Self or Unrepresented
33.3% guilty · 66.7% dismissed

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 81 75.3% 11.1%
Black 30 86.7% 0.0%
19.1%
Under 21
22.1%
21-29
26.7%
30-39
13.0%
40-49
8.4%
50-59
10.7%
60+

Exhibit · Disposition trends

Year Cases Guilty Rate Dismissal Rate Avg Sentence (confined)
2023 123 66.7% 4.1% 8.5 months
2024 134 68.7% 9.0% 1 year, 4 months
2025 131 76.3% 8.4% 1 year, 9 months

Quarterly detail

3.1%
5.4%
7.5%
11.8%
12.9%
9.4%
7.7%
7.9%
Q1’23 Q3’23 Q1’24 Q3’24 Q4’24 Q1’25 Q3’25 Q4’25

Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.

Level Degree Cases
Misdemeanor First Degree 237
Felony Third Degree 124
Felony Second Degree 19
Felony First Degree 8
Charge Cases Guilty Rate Dismissal Rate
Traffic Offense 506 61.7% 0.6%
Drug Possession 314 76.1% 8.3%
Other 221 58.8% 17.2%
Contempt of Court 137 12.4% 87.6%
Larceny / Theft 137 85.4% 1.5%
DUI 98 95.9% 1.0%
Resisting Officer 87 82.8% 6.9%
Trespassing 67 73.1% 13.4%

Cite this page

FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Battery in Okeechobee County, Florida (2025). Based on 131 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/battery/okeechobee

About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Okeechobee 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 · 131 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com