Child Abuse / Neglect in Florida
3,211 cases (2025) · 60 counties · All charges
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
Based on 3,211 Child Abuse / Neglect cases across Florida (2025), the statewide guilty rate is 55.8% with a 1.8% dismissal rate. Adjudication was withheld in 25.0% of cases. Among convicted defendants who received confinement, the average sentence is 4.1 years, with an average fine of $653.
1.8% of Child Abuse / Neglect cases in Florida are dismissed — but outcomes vary widely by county. A defense attorney can review your situation — free, no obligation.
Ask a Florida attorney — freeChild Abuse / Neglect by County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
Counties ranked by child abuse / neglect case volume; the rate shown is each county's dismissal rate for the window marked. Click any county for its full outcome breakdown — guilty and withheld rates, sentencing, and trends.
All Florida countiesYear-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends — statewide
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,499 | 53.2% | 1.8% | 3.8 years |
| 2024 | 3,583 | 51.3% | 2.1% | 5.4 years |
| 2025 | 3,630 | 56.1% | 1.7% | 4.0 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts.
Monthly Trend — Child Abuse / Neglect Dispositions Statewide
Court dispositions of Child Abuse / Neglect charges across Florida, month by month. FloridaCourtFile refreshes this data monthly from FDLE's Criminal Justice Data Transparency releases — no other public source tracks Florida charge outcomes at this cadence.
| Month | Dispositions | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07 | 317 | 53.9% | 1.3% |
| 2024-08 | 312 | 51.9% | 1.6% |
| 2024-09 | 248 | 54.4% | 2.0% |
| 2024-10 | 295 | 55.9% | 1.0% |
| 2024-11 | 271 | 52.0% | 1.5% |
| 2024-12 | 247 | 53.4% | 2.4% |
| 2025-01 | 317 | 62.5% | 1.6% |
| 2025-02 | 291 | 56.4% | 1.7% |
| 2025-03 | 308 | 52.3% | 2.3% |
| 2025-04 | 361 | 63.2% | 1.7% |
| 2025-05 | 322 | 50.3% | 1.2% |
| 2025-06 | 317 | 56.8% | 0.9% |
| 2025-07 | 258 | 50.8% | 2.3% |
| 2025-08 | 341 | 60.1% | 0.3% |
| 2025-09 | 283 | 53.7% | 2.8% |
| 2025-10 | 311 | 56.3% | 1.0% |
| 2025-11 | 278 | 43.9% | 3.2% |
| 2025-12 | 268 | 63.8% | 2.2% |
Counts for recent months can rise slightly in later releases as courts report late dispositions. Data through FDLE's September 2026 release.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency — FloridaCourtFile.com
Related Florida Statute
§ 827.03 — Child Abuse / Neglect
Florida Statute § 827.03 criminalizes the intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon a child, or the failure of a caregiver to make reasonable efforts to protect a child from harm. This statute covers both active abuse and passive neglect by caregivers responsible for a child's welfare.
Related Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Child Abuse / Neglect in Florida?
The statewide guilty rate for Child Abuse / Neglect is 55.8% based on 3,211 cases from 60 counties (2025).
What is the dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect in Florida?
The statewide dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect is 1.8% across all Florida counties (2025).
How does Child Abuse / Neglect sentencing vary by county?
Sentencing for Child Abuse / Neglect varies significantly by county. Browse the county breakdown table above to compare guilty rates, dismissal rates, and average sentences across all 60 counties.
What does adjudication withheld mean for Child Abuse / Neglect?
Adjudication withheld means the court found sufficient evidence of guilt but chose not to formally convict the defendant. This is unique to Florida and means the charge does not appear as a conviction on the defendant's record, though the arrest record remains. For Child Abuse / Neglect, adjudication is withheld in 25.0% of cases statewide (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Child Abuse / Neglect in Florida (2025). Based on 3,211 public court records across 60 counties; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/child-abuse-neglect
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 3,211 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com