Criminal Mischief in Miami-Dade County, Florida
739 cases (2025) · Miami-Dade County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Miami-Dade County defendants accused of criminal mischief benefited from the state's most expansive diversion program usage. Diversion resolved 17.1% of cases—2.5 times the statewide average of 6.8%. The guilty rate stood at 52.8%, and withheld adjudications reached 27.3%, meaning over half of defendants either avoided conviction or saw it withheld from their record. Dismissals remained near the statewide average at 2.3%, yet alternative routes to non-conviction predominated.
Sentencing averaged 281 days with a median of 88 days. Prison affected 18.5% of cases, higher than many counties, while jail time reached 29.4%. Probation averaged over 964 days—nearly three years. Public defenders represented 67% of cases, and average fines reached $383. The heavy diversion usage is offset by substantial probation requirements and prison exposure for convicted defendants.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Miami-Dade County makes it in front of a judge. Of 8,338 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 43.2% — 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 52.8% of 739 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 739 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 | 698 | 5.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 678 | 1 year, 6 months |
| Confinement to Hospital Facility | 1 | 10.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Miami-Dade 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 | 443 | 45.8% | 1.8% |
| Black | 292 | 63.4% | 2.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 960 | 57.9% | 1.1% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 903 | 59.1% | 1.8% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 739 | 52.8% | 2.3% | 9.3 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 930 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 834 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 819 |
| NULL | NULL | 19 |
Related Charges in Miami-Dade County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 4,534 | 20.9% | 47.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 4,723 | 65.1% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 2,848 | 65.8% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,016 | 52.2% | 2.1% |
| Battery | 1,903 | 45.8% | 1.9% |
| Burglary | 1,187 | 68.8% | 1.0% |
| Fraud | 1,418 | 40.0% | 0.5% |
| Traffic Offense | 1,103 | 56.6% | 5.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Miami-Dade County?
The guilty rate is 52.8% based on 739 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Miami-Dade County?
Adjudication is withheld in 27.3% 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 Miami-Dade County?
The average sentence is 9.3 months, with an average fine of $383 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
67.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 22.2% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2025). Based on 739 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/miami-dade
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Miami-Dade 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 · 739 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com