Fraud in Palm Beach County, Florida
920 cases (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
Palm Beach County, with 920 fraud cases in 2025, stood apart for its heavy reliance on diversion programs. The diversion rate of 22.7% was more than 3.5 times the statewide average of 6.5%, offering most defendants a chance to resolve charges outside court. The guilty rate of 60.2% was correspondingly lower than the statewide average, and dismissals were rare at 0.5%. Adjudication withheld occurred in 15.1% of cases.
In cases that proceeded to sentencing, average sentence was 388.1 days but the median was only 88 days, indicating most were short. Prison was used in 16.7% of cases and jail in 44.3%. Public defenders represented 57.9% of defendants, significantly higher than private counsel at 35.3%, suggesting many defendants had limited financial resources.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Fraud charge in Palm Beach County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,763 prosecutor decisions on Fraud charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 16.5% — below the 33.7% 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 — 60.2% of 920 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 920 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 | 1,051 | 2.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 406 | 3.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Fraud sentencing in Palm Beach County.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 473 | 60.3% | 0.8% |
| White | 444 | 60.6% | 0.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 760 | 59.2% | 1.1% | 1 year, 1 months |
| 2024 | 794 | 59.4% | 1.0% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 920 | 60.2% | 0.5% | 1 year |
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 | 1,221 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 832 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 191 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 181 |
| Felony | First Degree | 49 |
Related Charges in Palm Beach County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 18,608 | 27.0% | 0.4% |
| Other | 5,544 | 11.7% | 0.4% |
| Drug Possession | 3,574 | 68.0% | 0.3% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,182 | 63.8% | 0.5% |
| Battery | 2,689 | 45.0% | 0.5% |
| Trespassing | 2,271 | 69.7% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,091 | 61.8% | 0.5% |
| DUI | 1,691 | 95.6% | 0.3% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Palm Beach County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Fraud cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Fraud in Palm Beach County?
The guilty rate is 60.2% based on 920 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Fraud in Palm Beach County?
Adjudication is withheld in 15.1% 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 Fraud in Palm Beach County?
The average sentence is 1 year (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
57.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 35.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Palm Beach County, Florida (2025). Based on 920 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/fraud/palm-beach
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Palm Beach 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 · 920 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com