Hit and Run in Franklin County, Florida

Hit and Run cases in Franklin County follow a dramatically different path than statewide patterns, with diversion dominating local outcomes. Nearly 58 percent of cases here end in pre-trial diversion programs—far above the statewide average of 8.2 percent—suggesting the local State Attorney prioritizes resolution through program completion rather than formal adjudication. Meanwhile, the withheld adjudication rate of 5.3 percent falls significantly below the statewide average of 31.2 percent, and Franklin County has recorded zero dismissals compared to a statewide dismissal rate of 1.8 percent. Only 36.8 percent of cases result in guilty verdicts, indicating prosecutors and courts in this county treat hit and run cases as divertible rather than prosecutorial priorities.

Among defendants not diverted, sentences are relatively modest. Average sentences run 31.7 days with median sentences at 34 days, though probation extends significantly longer at 183 days on average. About 16 percent of defendants are confined, while fines average roughly $86. Public defenders represent 42.1 percent of defendants, with private counsel in 21.1 percent of cases, suggesting a sizable portion of defendants either had counsel status not recorded or relied on alternative representation arrangements.