Kidnapping in Broward County, Florida
42 cases (2025) · Broward County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Broward County handled 42 kidnapping cases with a guilty rate of 73.8 percent and a withheld adjudication rate of 23.8 percent, both reflecting careful case management for this serious felony. No defendants received diversion—kidnapping cases proceeded to adjudication or trial. The dismissal rate of 2.4 percent slightly exceeded the statewide 1.9 percent average, though acquittals were zero, suggesting most cases resolved by plea or guilt finding.
Sentences reflected kidnapping's severity: averaging 2,538 days (nearly seven years) with a median of 913 days. Over half of convicted defendants received prison sentences (52.4 percent), while 14.3 percent received jail time. Probation averaged 1,399 days, ensuring lengthy post-release supervision for those not imprisoned.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Kidnapping charge in Broward County makes it in front of a judge. Of 747 prosecutor decisions on Kidnapping charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 51.7% — below the 57.1% 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 — 73.8% of 42 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 42 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 | 42 | 8.1 years |
| County Jail | 16 | 9.4 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Kidnapping sentencing in Broward County.
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 | 33 | 78.8% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21 | 61.9% | 4.8% | 3.0 years |
| 2024 | 38 | 65.8% | 0.0% | 6.5 years |
| 2025 | 42 | 73.8% | 2.4% | 7.0 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 57 |
| Felony | Life | 18 |
| Felony | First Degree | 14 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 12 |
Related Charges in Broward County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,520 | 22.1% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,161 | 62.6% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 2,012 | 54.5% | 12.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,556 | 52.6% | 5.3% |
| Trespassing | 1,337 | 55.9% | 4.7% |
| Other | 1,326 | 32.6% | 32.9% |
| Battery | 823 | 53.9% | 8.3% |
| Fraud | 976 | 55.2% | 3.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Kidnapping in Broward County?
The guilty rate is 73.8% based on 42 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Kidnapping in Broward County?
Adjudication is withheld in 23.8% 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 Kidnapping in Broward County?
The average sentence is 7.0 years (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Kidnapping in Broward County, Florida (2025). Based on 42 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/kidnapping/broward
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Broward 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 · 42 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com