Criminal Mischief in Bay County, Florida
245 cases (2025) · Bay County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, criminal mischief cases in Bay County resulted in guilty verdicts in about two-thirds of cases, with dismissals occurring in less than 1% of prosecutions—well below the statewide average of 2.4%. Adjudication withheld occurred in 17.6% of cases, matching statewide rates, while 14.3% of defendants were diverted from prosecution, nearly double the statewide average. This suggests Bay County's State Attorney emphasizes diversion as an alternative to trial for lower-level property crimes.
Defendants convicted of criminal mischief in Bay County faced an average sentence of about 238 days, though half received 60 days or less. Roughly a third spent time in jail, while probation averaged about 20 months. Public defenders handled 40% of cases, with defendants averaging fines around $380.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Bay County makes it in front of a judge. Of 426 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 11.0% — below the 31.9% 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 — 64.5% of 245 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 245 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 244 | 3.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 65 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Bay 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 | 172 | 64.5% | 1.2% |
| Black | 70 | 65.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 242 | 67.4% | 1.2% | 10.0 months |
| 2024 | 211 | 69.7% | 0.5% | 9.9 months |
| 2025 | 245 | 64.5% | 0.8% | 7.9 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 261 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 251 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 186 |
Related Charges in Bay County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 2,900 | 65.9% | 1.2% |
| Traffic Offense | 2,095 | 55.2% | 0.9% |
| Other | 1,372 | 41.3% | 2.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,109 | 66.4% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 1,044 | 64.5% | 1.9% |
| DUI | 622 | 98.1% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 624 | 66.7% | 1.9% |
| Fraud | 327 | 64.8% | 0.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Bay County?
The guilty rate is 64.5% based on 245 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Bay County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.6% 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 Criminal Mischief in Bay County?
The average sentence is 7.9 months, with an average fine of $381 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
40.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Bay County, Florida (2025). Based on 245 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/bay
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Bay 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 · 245 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com