Criminal Mischief in Monroe County, Florida
40 cases (2025) · Monroe County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Monroe County prosecuted criminal mischief with zero dismissals in the 40 cases handled, the only county in the sample to achieve this. Guilty verdicts occurred in 67.5% of cases, while 20% received adjudication withheld and 10% were diverted. This zero-dismissal rate contrasts sharply with the statewide average of 2.4% and suggests either highly selective case filing or a prosecution approach that proceeds only with strong evidence.
Defendants facing conviction received an average sentence of 171 days, though half received 60 days or less. Jail confinement occurred in 30% of cases, with very few receiving prison time. Notably, 52.5% of defendants retained private attorneys—the highest rate among all counties—suggesting either greater resources among defendants or fewer public defender slots. Probation averaged about 13 months.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Monroe County makes it in front of a judge. Of 185 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 40.0% — 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 — 67.5% of 40 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 40 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 | 74 | 4.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 9 | 3.4 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Monroe 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 | 32 | 68.8% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66 | 78.8% | 0.0% | 10.0 months |
| 2024 | 65 | 70.8% | 0.0% | 7.6 months |
| 2025 | 40 | 67.5% | 0.0% | 5.7 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 77 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 54 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 40 |
Related Charges in Monroe County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 985 | 37.0% | 0.3% |
| Other | 730 | 54.0% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 551 | 52.5% | 1.3% |
| Trespassing | 311 | 89.1% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 272 | 63.6% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 291 | 89.7% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 240 | 80.0% | 1.2% |
| Battery | 223 | 52.0% | 0.4% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Monroe County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Criminal Mischief cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Monroe County?
The guilty rate is 67.5% based on 40 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Monroe County?
Adjudication is withheld in 20.0% 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 Monroe County?
The average sentence is 5.7 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
40.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 52.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Monroe County, Florida (2025). Based on 40 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/monroe
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Monroe 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 · 40 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com