Homicide in Palm Beach County, Florida
107 cases (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Palm Beach County prosecuted homicide with moderate conviction outcomes: 76% guilty verdicts, complemented by 7.5% acquittals—above statewide patterns. Dismissal rate of 6.5% significantly exceeded the state average of 2.0%, the highest dismissal rate in this homicide county sample. No withheld adjudication or diversion programs appeared, consistent with charge severity.
Sentences averaged 6,390 days (approximately 17.5 years), median 5,479 days. Prison sentences were imposed in 56% of cases, jail in 3%. Average fines reached $3,000—highest in this sample, suggesting enhanced restitution or victim-focused sentencing. Private counsel represented 60% of defendants, indicating concentration of paid defense resources.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Homicide charge in Palm Beach County makes it in front of a judge. Of 399 prosecutor decisions on Homicide charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 11.0% — below the 27.9% 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 — 75.7% of 107 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 107 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 238 | 16.1 years |
| County Jail | 14 | 4.4 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Homicide 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 | 72 | 75.0% | 5.6% |
| White | 35 | 77.1% | 8.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 109 | 82.6% | 0.9% | 16.5 years |
| 2024 | 138 | 84.8% | 2.9% | 13.0 years |
| 2025 | 107 | 75.7% | 6.5% | 17.5 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 | 119 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 99 |
| Felony | First Degree | 85 |
| Felony | Capital | 48 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 3 |
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% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Homicide in Palm Beach County?
The guilty rate is 75.7% based on 107 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Homicide in Palm Beach County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.0% 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 Palm Beach County?
The average sentence is 17.5 years, with an average fine of $3,000 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
40.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 59.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Homicide in Palm Beach County, Florida (2025). Based on 107 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/homicide/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 · 107 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com