Burglary in Sarasota County, Florida
216 cases (2025) · Sarasota County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Sarasota County's 216 burglary cases showed a unique outcome distribution: the highest adjudication-withheld rate (19.9%) of any reviewed jurisdiction, yet the lowest dismissal rate (0.5%). This profile means defendants rarely saw cases dismissed outright, but roughly one in five received the favorable outcome of guilt-with-withheld status—a non-conviction that leaves no permanent record. The guilty rate of 73.1% was moderate, and diversion remained minimal at 1.4%. The State Attorney's apparent strategy traded dismissals for withheld adjudications.
Average sentences of 1,304 days (median 748 days) reflected substantial confinement. Prison sentences applied to 44% of defendants, while 17% received jail time. Counsel representation was heavily public defender-dominated; private attorney data was incomplete in available records.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Burglary charge in Sarasota County makes it in front of a judge. Of 519 prosecutor decisions on Burglary charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 3.5% — 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 — 73.1% of 216 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 216 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 | 278 | 4.1 years |
| County Jail | 132 | 9.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Burglary sentencing in Sarasota County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 146 | 75.3% | 0.7% |
| Black | 69 | 69.6% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 229 | 76.0% | 2.2% | 2.7 years |
| 2024 | 173 | 87.3% | 1.7% | 2.9 years |
| 2025 | 216 | 73.1% | 0.5% | 3.6 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 | 398 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 182 |
| Felony | First Degree | 26 |
| Felony | Life | 9 |
| Felony | NULL | 3 |
Related Charges in Sarasota County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,328 | 50.1% | 2.8% |
| Drug Possession | 2,404 | 75.9% | 1.2% |
| Other | 1,063 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,028 | 64.1% | 2.5% |
| DUI | 711 | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 685 | 57.7% | 0.9% |
| Sex Offense | 561 | 78.3% | 0.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 594 | 74.1% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Burglary in Sarasota County?
The guilty rate is 73.1% based on 216 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Burglary in Sarasota County?
Adjudication is withheld in 19.9% 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 Sarasota County?
The average sentence is 3.6 years (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Burglary in Sarasota County, Florida (2025). Based on 216 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/burglary/sarasota
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sarasota 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 · 216 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com