Burglary in Polk County, Florida
678 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County prosecuted burglary aggressively. Of 678 defendants, 81.1% were convicted with only 0.3% dismissed—far below the statewide average of 1.5%. Withheld adjudication occurred in 12.2%, near the statewide norm. Diversion was nearly absent at 0.4%. This conviction-focused approach left little room for alternative resolutions.
Convicted defendants faced among Florida's longest sentences. The median prison term was 2.7 years, with an average of 3.9 years, and over half (55.9%) received prison time. Another 22% were sentenced to jail. Probation averaged 3.7 years. The higher rate of private counsel (33.9%) compared to some counties suggests greater resources to fight charges, yet sentences remained steep.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Burglary charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 2,138 prosecutor decisions on Burglary charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 8.8% — 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 — 81.1% of 678 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 678 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 | 1,015 | 4.3 years |
| County Jail | 473 | 5.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Burglary sentencing in Polk 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 | 362 | 82.6% | 0.0% |
| Black | 316 | 79.4% | 0.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 570 | 73.0% | 0.7% | 2.2 years |
| 2024 | 659 | 81.6% | 0.3% | 3.0 years |
| 2025 | 678 | 81.1% | 0.3% | 4.0 years |
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 | 1,478 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 315 |
| Felony | First Degree | 44 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 39 |
| Felony | Life | 31 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,806 | 51.7% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,912 | 81.5% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,574 | 39.9% | 5.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,655 | 69.9% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,437 | 77.1% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 1,830 | 62.5% | 2.6% |
| Trespassing | 1,467 | 77.6% | 3.8% |
| DUI | 964 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Burglary in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 81.1% based on 678 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Burglary in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.2% 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 Burglary in Polk County?
The average sentence is 4.0 years, with an average fine of $481 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
45.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 33.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Burglary in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 678 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/burglary/polk
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Polk 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 · 678 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com