Domestic Violence in Broward County, Florida
24 cases (2023-2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Broward County's domestic violence disposition pattern reflects a distinctive prosecutorial strategy focused on formal adjudication. With a withheld adjudication rate of 54.2%—substantially above the statewide average of 32.0%—the county favors guilt findings that stop short of formal conviction. The complete absence of dismissals or diversion programs, which account for 11.4% statewide, suggests the State Attorney pursues prosecution vigorously even when alternative outcomes might be available elsewhere.
When confinement occurs, it is severe. The median sentence exceeded 11 months, with probation terms averaging more than three years. Approximately one-third of defendants faced either prison or jail time. The withheld adjudication pattern allows guilty findings to avoid creating a formal conviction record—a significant distinction in domestic violence cases—yet the actual sentences imposed remain notably punitive compared to many other charge types.
Figures cover 24 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Domestic Violence charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 58 prosecutor decisions on Domestic Violence charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 29.3% — below the 37.9% 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeAdjudication withheld — 54.2% of 24 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 24 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 4 | 2.0 years |
| County Jail | 4 | 3.9 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Domestic Violence sentencing in Broward County.
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 17 | 47.1% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 days |
| 2024 | 8 | 75.0% | 0.0% | 0 year, 12 months |
| 2025 | 11 | 45.5% | 0.0% | 1 year, 6 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 17 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 7 |
Related Charges in Broward County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,520 | 22.1% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,161 | 62.6% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 2,012 | 54.5% | 12.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,556 | 52.6% | 5.3% |
| Trespassing | 1,337 | 55.9% | 4.7% |
| Other | 1,326 | 32.6% | 32.9% |
| Battery | 823 | 53.9% | 8.3% |
| Fraud | 976 | 55.2% | 3.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Domestic Violence in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 45.8% based on 24 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Domestic Violence in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 54.2% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Domestic Violence in Broward County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 2 months (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Domestic Violence in Broward County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 24 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/domestic-violence/broward
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Broward 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 · 24 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com