Hit and Run in Pinellas County, Florida
411 cases (2025) · Pinellas County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Pinellas County handled hit and run cases with the harshest outcomes statewide. Of 413 cases, 72.9% resulted in guilty verdicts—far exceeding any other county examined. Adjudication was withheld in 25.2%, and diversion was virtually nonexistent at 0%. Dismissals were rare at 1.0%, with only 0.5% acquittals. Pinellas County's State Attorney has taken an uncompromising stance on hit and run, treating it as a serious crime warranting conviction rather than alternative resolution.
Sentences reflected maximum severity within misdemeanor bounds. The median was 60 days with an average of 358.2 days. Probation averaged 701.7 days and fines averaged $143. About 32% were jailed and 4.8% received prison time. Notably, counsel data is sparse in this county's records, suggesting incomplete reporting or limited representation documentation.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Hit and Run charge in Pinellas County makes it in front of a judge. Of 751 prosecutor decisions on Hit and Run charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 25.2% — above the 13.9% 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 — 73.2% of 411 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 411 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 | 388 | 3.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 61 | 5.1 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Hit and Run sentencing in Pinellas County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Hit and Run in Pinellas County?
The guilty rate is 73.2% based on 411 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Hit and Run in Pinellas County?
Adjudication is withheld in 24.8% 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 Hit and Run in Pinellas County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 11.9 months, with an average fine of $144 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
5.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 7.1% 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 | 222 | 70.7% | 0.0% |
| Black | 126 | 77.0% | 2.4% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 591 | 66.8% | 1.0% | 10.5 months |
| 2024 | 444 | 73.9% | 1.1% | 11.6 months |
| 2025 | 411 | 73.2% | 1.0% | 11.9 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 | Second Degree | 1,311 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 76 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 33 |
| Felony | First Degree | 26 |
Related Charges in Pinellas County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 6,836 | 76.0% | 1.5% |
| Other | 6,400 | 14.4% | 0.4% |
| Traffic Offense | 5,464 | 78.4% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 2,353 | 97.8% | 0.7% |
| Trespassing | 2,539 | 86.2% | 4.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,443 | 75.3% | 2.0% |
| Battery | 2,015 | 55.2% | 3.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,570 | 78.5% | 1.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Hit and Run in Pinellas County, Florida (2025). Based on 411 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/hit-and-run/pinellas
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Pinellas 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 · 411 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com