Homicide in Hillsborough County, Florida
162 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, homicide defendants in Hillsborough County had a 70.4% guilty conviction rate, with only 0.6% adjudication withheld and 4.3% dismissed—substantially higher than the statewide dismissal average of 2.0%. The 7.4% acquittal rate suggests jury trials in the county occasionally favor defendants, but overall convictions dominate outcomes. These patterns reflect the State Attorney's serious prosecution approach to homicide cases.
Among convicted defendants, 71% received prison sentences averaging 5,977.9 days (16.4 years), with a median of 5,479 days (15 years). Average probation ran 2,273.8 days. Fines averaged $3,037.50. Private counsel represented 84.6% of defendants, substantially higher than public defenders at 15.4%—reflecting the resources defendants typically mobilize for serious felony charges.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Homicide charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 379 prosecutor decisions on Homicide charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 12.7% — below the 27.7% 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 — 70.4% of 162 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 162 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) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 303 | 13.7 years |
| County Jail | 6 | 10.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Homicide sentencing in Hillsborough County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Homicide in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 70.4% based on 162 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Homicide in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.6% 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 Homicide in Hillsborough County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 16.4 years, with an average fine of $3,038 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
15.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 84.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 93 | 66.7% | 4.3% |
| White | 67 | 74.6% | 4.5% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 110 | 82.7% | 1.8% | 15.6 years |
| 2024 | 140 | 71.4% | 2.9% | 16.0 years |
| 2025 | 162 | 70.4% | 4.3% | 16.4 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Life | 124 |
| Felony | First Degree | 105 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 102 |
| Felony | Capital | 66 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 15 |
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). Homicide in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 162 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/homicide/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 · 162 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com