Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County, Florida
729 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, criminal mischief in Hillsborough County diverged from state norms through high use of diversion: 11.8% of cases versus 6.6% statewide. The guilty rate was 62.4%, the lowest of the mischief jurisdictions examined. Adjudication-withheld and dismissals tracked near statewide levels at 16.2% and 2.7% respectively. The elevated diversion rate suggests prosecutors actively seek pre-trial alternatives in this county.
Sentences among the confined averaged 358 days with a median of 200 days, paired with lengthy probation of 659 days on average. Confinement was primarily jail at 23.3%, with 7.4% imprisoned. Private attorney representation dominated at 87%, indicating defendants in Hillsborough possessed greater financial resources for counsel.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 3,107 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 29.9% — in line with 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 — 62.4% of 729 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 729 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) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 543 | 6.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 136 | 2.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 62.4% based on 729 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 16.2% 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 Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 11.9 months, with an average fine of $450 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
13.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 87.0% 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 | 373 | 59.5% | 2.1% |
| Black | 340 | 66.8% | 3.5% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 696 | 61.6% | 3.7% | 11.5 months |
| 2024 | 657 | 62.3% | 4.7% | 10.8 months |
| 2025 | 729 | 62.4% | 2.7% | 11.9 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 | 983 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 688 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 404 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 7 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,131 | 50.7% | 9.1% |
| Drug Possession | 6,203 | 72.4% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,598 | 68.8% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,442 | 85.7% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.6% |
| Battery | 3,194 | 50.4% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,875 | 69.5% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,542 | 74.3% | 1.9% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 729 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough 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 · 729 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com