Burglary in Highlands County, Florida
77 cases (2025) · Highlands County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Highlands County prosecuted 77 burglary cases with an 84.4% guilty verdict rate and 9.1% adjudication withheld. Notably, zero dismissals occurred—well below the statewide 1.5%—and no diversions despite the statewide average of 2.3%. This pattern reflects a county prosecution approach that pursues cases to conviction at a higher rate than other Florida circuits. The withheld rate was also substantially lower than statewide norms, meaning fewer defendants received the record-protection benefit of adjudication without formal conviction.
Sentencing outcomes were severe. Average sentences reached 1,766 days, matching the median of 1,826 days, with 54.5% receiving prison terms and another 18.2% sentenced to jail. Probation averaged 1,361 days. Most defendants relied on public defenders at 44.2%, though the data does not fully detail private counsel breakdown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Burglary charge in Highlands County makes it in front of a judge. Of 323 prosecutor decisions on Burglary charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 5.9% — below the 31.2% 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 — 84.4% of 77 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 77 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 99 | 5.0 years |
| County Jail | 54 | 8.8 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Burglary sentencing in Highlands 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 | 38 | 71.1% | 0.0% |
| Black | 38 | 97.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 87 | 80.5% | 0.0% | 2.5 years |
| 2024 | 71 | 87.3% | 0.0% | 2.9 years |
| 2025 | 77 | 84.4% | 0.0% | 4.8 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 195 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 29 |
| Felony | First Degree | 11 |
Related Charges in Highlands County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 754 | 64.2% | 1.6% |
| Drug Possession | 571 | 89.1% | 0.7% |
| Other | 332 | 75.6% | 7.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 256 | 85.5% | 1.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 208 | 85.6% | 2.4% |
| Battery | 246 | 80.9% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 138 | 84.8% | 2.9% |
| Fraud | 97 | 73.2% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Burglary in Highlands County?
The guilty rate is 84.4% based on 77 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Burglary in Highlands County?
Adjudication is withheld in 9.1% 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 Burglary in Highlands County?
The average sentence is 4.8 years, with an average fine of $271 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
44.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Burglary in Highlands County, Florida (2025). Based on 77 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/burglary/highlands
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Highlands 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 · 77 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com