Burglary in Polk County, Florida
680 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Burglary in Polk County resulted in guilty verdicts in 81.8% of cases, one of the highest conviction rates statewide. Dismissals occurred in just 0.3% of cases, significantly below the 1.5% statewide rate, and diversion programs were nearly unused at 0.4% versus 2.1% statewide. This pattern suggests the Tenth Judicial Circuit pursues burglary charges aggressively with minimal alternative resolution pathways.
Polk County imposed the most severe sentences observed: the median prison term was nearly three years, with average probation exceeding three and a half years. Prison confinement affected 56.8% of defendants, the highest prison rate among comparable counties. The defendant population showed a moderate mix of private (34%) and public defenders (46.6%).
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Burglary charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 2,136 prosecutor decisions on Burglary charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 8.8% — below the 31.1% 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 — 81.8% of 680 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 680 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 1,021 | 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Burglary in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 81.8% based on 680 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Burglary in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 11.6% 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?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.0 years, with an average fine of $479 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
46.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 34.0% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 363 | 83.2% | 0.0% |
| Black | 317 | 80.1% | 0.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 572 | 72.9% | 0.7% | 2.2 years |
| 2024 | 659 | 81.8% | 0.3% | 3.0 years |
| 2025 | 680 | 81.8% | 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 | 1,480 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 314 |
| Felony | First Degree | 44 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 41 |
| Felony | Life | 32 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,862 | 51.9% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,926 | 81.8% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,588 | 40.2% | 5.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,669 | 70.3% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,448 | 77.3% | 0.8% |
| Battery | 1,836 | 63.0% | 2.7% |
| Trespassing | 1,480 | 77.8% | 4.3% |
| DUI | 973 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Burglary in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 680 public court records; last updated September 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 · 680 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com