Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County, Florida
37 cases (2023-2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
From 2023 to 2025, domestic violence charges in Hillsborough County resulted in guilty verdicts in 48.6% of the 37 cases, with 24.3% resulting in adjudication withheld. The dismissal rate (10.8%) far exceeds the statewide average of 1.6%—a nine percentage point gap that is remarkable. This suggests either weaker initial charging decisions, successful defense challenges, or victim noncooperation leading to case abandonment, all common in domestic violence prosecution. Diversion programs resolve 16.2% of cases, above the statewide rate of 11.0%.
Defendants convicted or receiving withheld adjudication face serious consequences: a median sentence of 364 days and average of 637.8 days when confined. Probation averages 1,159.7 days. Prison accounts for 13.5% and jail 21.6% of cases. An unusual 83.8% of defendants retained private attorneys—far above typical public defender representation—suggesting cases involving higher economic resources. This profile contrasts with the high dismissal rate, indicating procedural and evidentiary challenges rather than prosecutorial leniency.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 37 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 Hillsborough 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 46.6% — above the 38.0% 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 outcomeGuilty — 48.6% of 37 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 37 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 8 | 7.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 5 | 3.3 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Domestic Violence sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 48.6% based on 37 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 24.3% 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 Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 9 months (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
16.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 83.8% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 23 | 47.8% | 13.0% |
| Black | 13 | 46.2% | 7.7% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 | 46.7% | 0.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2024 | 6 | 50.0% | 0.0% | 0 days |
| 2025 | 16 | 50.0% | 25.0% | 2.2 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 34 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,131 | 50.7% | 9.1% |
| Drug Possession | 6,203 | 72.4% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,598 | 68.8% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,442 | 85.7% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.6% |
| Battery | 3,194 | 50.4% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,875 | 69.5% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,542 | 74.3% | 1.9% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 37 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/domestic-violence/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 · 37 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com