DUI in Broward County, Florida
839 cases (2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Broward County prosecuted 839 DUI cases with an 81% conviction rate but higher dismissal rates than statewide—2.7% versus 1.4%. Broward also employed withheld adjudication in 2.1% of cases and diversion in 12.4%. This multi-pathway approach suggests the Broward State Attorney permits case scrutiny and alternative resolutions more readily than most counties. Defendants face conviction less predictably here.
Sentences are moderate when imposed. Broward averaged 157 days with a median of 82 days, plus 689 days average probation. Prison confinement is rare at 0.2%, while 9.2% serve jail time. The relatively high probation duration suggests the county emphasizes supervised rehabilitation over carceral terms.
Where You Are in the Process
Exhibit · DUI case process
Request a formal review hearing with the DMV (DHSMV) to challenge your license suspension. Missing this deadline means an automatic suspension.
Arraignment. Charges are formally presented. Pre-trial diversion may be offered.
Pre-trial period. Your attorney negotiates with the State Attorney's office. 14.5% of DUI cases in Broward County receive adjudication withheld or diversion.
Typical resolution time for DUI cases in Broward County.
Source: Florida Statutes & DHSMV administrative rules — general process overview, not legal advice.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every DUI charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 12,902 prosecutor decisions on DUI charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 14.3% — in line with the 15.3% 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 — 81.0% of 839 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 839 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 | 296 | 3.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 17 | 1 year, 12 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: DUI sentencing in Broward County.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Available | 561 | 81.1% | 2.9% |
| Black | 245 | 82.0% | 1.6% |
| Asian | 16 | 56.2% | 18.8% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 670 | 91.3% | 1.8% | 3.6 months |
| 2024 | 933 | 83.7% | 4.2% | 5.3 months |
| 2025 | 839 | 81.0% | 2.7% | 5.2 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 | First Degree | 2,117 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 250 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 75 |
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 DUI in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 81.0% based on 839 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for DUI in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 2.1% 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 DUI in Broward County?
The average sentence is 5.2 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). DUI in Broward County, Florida (2025). Based on 839 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/dui/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 · 839 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com