Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County, Florida
36 cases (2023-2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Hillsborough County's domestic violence cases resolve differently than the statewide pattern. The guilty rate of 47.2 percent is notably low, while diversion programs handle 16.7 percent of cases compared to 11.4 percent statewide. Dismissals are particularly common at 8.3 percent versus 1.5 percent statewide, suggesting that cases may be withdrawn or insufficient evidence emerges, possibly reflecting victim participation challenges that plague domestic violence prosecution.
Sentences for those convicted are severe: defendants face an average of 629 days and a median of 364 days of incarceration. Probation terms are even longer, averaging over 1,200 days. Despite these lengthy sentences, only about one-third of defendants are incarcerated; most face probation or other supervision. Representation is heavily private, at 77.8 percent of defendants.
Figures cover 36 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 57 prosecutor decisions on Domestic Violence charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 45.6% — above 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 outcomeGuilty — 47.2% of 36 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 36 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 8 | 7.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 4 | 3.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Domestic Violence sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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% | 8.7% |
| Black | 12 | 41.7% | 8.3% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 | 46.7% | 0.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2024 | 6 | 50.0% | 0.0% | 0 days |
| 2025 | 15 | 46.7% | 20.0% | 2.2 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 33 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Drug Possession | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Hillsborough County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Domestic Violence cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 47.2% based on 36 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 25.0% 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?
The average sentence is 1 year, 9 months (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
22.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 77.8% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Domestic Violence in Hillsborough County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 36 public court records; last updated July 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 · 36 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com