Criminal Mischief in Hendry County, Florida
60 cases (2023-2025) · Hendry County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
From 2023 to 2025, criminal mischief in Hendry County resulted in guilty verdicts in 78.3% of the 60 cases, with 16.7% resulting in adjudication withheld. The dismissal rate (1.7%) is slightly below statewide average (2.4%), but the withheld rate aligns with the 17.1% statewide norm. Unlike DeSoto, Hendry's approach to imprisonment is more restrained: only 1.7% of cases result in prison time, with jail as the confinement method in 43.3% of cases. This reflects a more measured local prosecution approach.
Sentences in Hendry are moderate, with a median of 60 days and average probation of 354.7 days. Fines average $381.82. The diversion rate (3.3%) falls short of statewide availability (6.6%), limiting alternatives to confinement. Nearly half of defendants (45%) rely on public defenders, suggesting limited financial resources in the local defendant population. Overall, Hendry handles mischief more leniently than neighboring counties.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 60 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Hendry County makes it in front of a judge. Of 93 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 44.1% — above 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 78.3% of 60 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 60 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 26 | 5.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 1 | 10.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Hendry County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Hendry County?
The guilty rate is 78.3% based on 60 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Hendry County?
Adjudication is withheld in 16.7% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Hendry County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 9.3 months, with an average fine of $382 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
45.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 11.7% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 24 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 17 | 76.5% | 5.9% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 23 | 87.0% | 0.0% | 4.4 months |
| 2024 | 21 | 61.9% | 4.8% | 5.5 months |
| 2025 | 16 | 87.5% | 0.0% | 1 year, 6 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 30 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 21 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Hendry County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 695 | 57.4% | 0.1% |
| Drug Possession | 373 | 77.5% | 0.0% |
| Other | 204 | 40.2% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 118 | 77.1% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 149 | 67.8% | 0.0% |
| Probation Violation | 136 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| Escape / Failure to Appear | 117 | 13.7% | 86.3% |
| Battery | 112 | 69.6% | 0.9% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Hendry County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 60 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/hendry
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hendry 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 · 60 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com