Disorderly Conduct in Polk County, Florida
281 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County handled 281 disorderly conduct cases with a conviction or withheld rate of 93.6%, the highest in the dataset. Withheld adjudication alone accounted for 45.2% of outcomes—nearly double the statewide 25.2%—while just 1.1% of cases ended in dismissal, half the statewide 2.3%. Diversion use, at 3.9%, fell well short of the statewide 7.8%, indicating this county minimizes alternatives to conviction or withheld findings.
Defendants received an average sentence of 51 days with 241 days of probation, yet only 12.5% faced actual jail time. This suggests the county emphasizes probationary supervision over incarceration. Average fines were $111. The defendant population was predominantly indigent, with 42% using public defenders.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Disorderly Conduct charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 474 prosecutor decisions on Disorderly Conduct charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 8.4% — below the 34.1% 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 — 48.4% of 281 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 281 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 | 143 | 1.5 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Disorderly Conduct sentencing in Polk 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 | 170 | 50.0% | 1.2% |
| Black | 103 | 49.5% | 1.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 298 | 56.0% | 0.0% | 1.4 months |
| 2024 | 259 | 51.7% | 1.2% | 1.5 months |
| 2025 | 281 | 48.4% | 1.1% | 1.7 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 | Second Degree | 731 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 106 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,806 | 51.7% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,912 | 81.5% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,574 | 39.9% | 5.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,655 | 69.9% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,437 | 77.1% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 1,830 | 62.5% | 2.6% |
| Trespassing | 1,467 | 77.6% | 3.8% |
| DUI | 964 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Disorderly Conduct in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 48.4% based on 281 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Disorderly Conduct in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 45.2% 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 Disorderly Conduct in Polk County?
The average sentence is 1.7 months, with an average fine of $111 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
42.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 18.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Disorderly Conduct in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 281 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/disorderly-conduct/polk
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Polk 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 · 281 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com