Forgery in Hillsborough County, Florida
221 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, forgery defendants in Hillsborough County faced a 66.1% conviction rate with zero dismissals, below the 1.9% statewide dismissal rate. Adjudication withheld reached 19.9%, below the statewide 22.7%. However, Hillsborough diverted 12.7% of cases—exceeding the 8.9% statewide rate—offering program completion as an alternative to conviction. This pattern suggests selective prosecution discretion, with most cases resolved through conviction or diversion rather than dismissal.
Forgery convictions in Hillsborough resulted in substantial sentences and penalties. Confined defendants averaged 714 days with a median of 364 days, and 50.2% faced incarceration (24.0% prison, 26.2% jail). Average fines reached $9,000, among the highest shown. Probation averaged 943 days. Private attorneys represented 89.1% of cases, the highest private counsel rate across all charges shown.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Forgery charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 563 prosecutor decisions on Forgery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 54.7% — above the 24.9% 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 66.1% of 221 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 221 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 198 | 5.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 105 | 3.1 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Forgery sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Forgery in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 66.1% based on 221 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Forgery in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 19.9% 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 Forgery in Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 12 months, with an average fine of $9,000 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
10.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 89.1% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 120 | 72.5% | 0.0% |
| Black | 97 | 60.8% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 204 | 63.2% | 0.0% | 1 year, 1 months |
| 2024 | 183 | 50.3% | 1.1% | 11.1 months |
| 2025 | 221 | 66.1% | 0.0% | 1 year, 12 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 566 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 26 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 8 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 5 |
| Felony | 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). Forgery in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 221 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/forgery/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 · 221 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com