Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County, Florida
735 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County prosecuted criminal mischief at a guilty rate of 61.6%, well below statewide averages. Diversion programs resolved 12.5% of cases, nearly double the state rate of 6.8%, indicating active use of pre-trial alternatives. Dismissals occurred in 2.9% of cases, slightly exceeding the statewide average, while withheld adjudications remained near state norms at 16.2%. These outcomes suggest balanced prosecution priorities.
Sentencing outcomes were more severe than dismissal rates suggest. Defendants averaged 358 days in sentences, with jail time affecting 23% and prison affecting 7.2%. Private attorneys represented 84.4% of defendants—an exceptionally high rate indicating cases involved more economically resourced individuals. Despite private counsel involvement, sentences remained substantial, suggesting the charge carries meaningful consequences even for well-represented defendants.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 3,070 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 30.1% — 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 — 61.6% of 735 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 735 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 | 541 | 6.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 135 | 2.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Hillsborough 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 | 376 | 59.6% | 2.1% |
| Black | 343 | 65.0% | 3.8% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 692 | 61.8% | 3.8% | 11.6 months |
| 2024 | 661 | 62.2% | 4.7% | 10.8 months |
| 2025 | 735 | 61.6% | 2.9% | 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 | 989 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 689 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 402 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 8 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Drug Possession | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 61.6% based on 735 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?
The average sentence is 11.9 months, with an average fine of $450 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
15.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 84.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 735 public court records; last updated July 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 · 735 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com