Intimidation / Threats in Polk County, Florida
145 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County prosecuted 145 intimidation and threats charges, resulting in guilty verdicts in 68.3% of cases. The dismissal rate was 2.8%, slightly above the statewide 2.2% average, while withheld adjudication occurred in 17.9% of cases, above the statewide 12.8%. Notably, the diversion rate was only 1.4%, well below the statewide 2.1%, indicating fewer defendants accessed pretrial diversion programs in Polk County.
Sentencing patterns show significant variation: the average sentence was 770.4 days (more than two years), yet the median was only 135 days, suggesting some cases resulted in lengthy sentences while others were shorter. Prison and jail confinement each affected substantial portions of defendants—14.5% saw prison time and 28.3% saw jail. Public defenders represented 53.8% of defendants, with the remainder using private counsel.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Intimidation / Threats charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 286 prosecutor decisions on Intimidation / Threats charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 11.2% — below the 31.4% 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 — 68.3% of 145 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 145 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 | 123 | 4.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 72 | 4.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Intimidation / Threats sentencing in Polk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 109 | 67.0% | 3.7% |
| Black | 35 | 71.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 102 | 77.5% | 2.0% | 2.1 years |
| 2024 | 133 | 73.7% | 3.0% | 1 year, 11 months |
| 2025 | 145 | 68.3% | 2.8% | 2.1 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 196 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 96 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 56 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 32 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,806 | 51.7% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,912 | 81.5% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,574 | 39.9% | 5.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,655 | 69.9% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,437 | 77.1% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 1,830 | 62.5% | 2.6% |
| Trespassing | 1,467 | 77.6% | 3.8% |
| DUI | 964 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Intimidation / Threats in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 68.3% based on 145 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Intimidation / Threats in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.9% 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 Intimidation / Threats in Polk County?
The average sentence is 2.1 years, with an average fine of $286 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
53.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 26.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Intimidation / Threats in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 145 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/intimidation-threats/polk
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Polk 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 · 145 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com