Larceny / Theft in Hernando County, Florida
601 cases (2025) · Hernando County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hernando County handled 601 larceny and theft cases with the lowest guilty rate in this sample at 52.7% and the highest diversion rate at 32.4%—nearly four times the statewide 8.7% average. Only 1.3% of cases were dismissed, close to the statewide 1.7%, while withheld adjudication occurred in 13.5% of cases, slightly below the statewide 15.6%. Collectively, these patterns show that Hernando County prioritized diversion pathways, allowing most defendants to avoid conviction.
Sentenced defendants in Hernando faced moderate consequences: the average was 330.3 days with a median of 120 days and 601.8 days of probation on average. Prison incarceration affected 8.7% of cases while jail affected 28.6%. Average fines totaled $236.67. Public defenders represented 40.8% of defendants despite the high diversion rate, suggesting public defense remains crucial in early case resolution and pretrial negotiations.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Hernando County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,432 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 23.3% — in line with the 23.7% 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 — 52.7% of 601 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 601 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 | 707 | 3.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 206 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Hernando 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 | 455 | 50.3% | 1.5% |
| Black | 107 | 63.6% | 0.9% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 941 | 64.2% | 0.3% | 10.8 months |
| 2024 | 1,283 | 35.4% | 0.3% | 9.7 months |
| 2025 | 601 | 52.7% | 1.3% | 11.0 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 | First Degree | 1,196 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1,025 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 591 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 10 |
| Felony | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Hernando County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,104 | 70.0% | 2.7% |
| Traffic Offense | 839 | 73.8% | 0.4% |
| Battery | 441 | 54.2% | 2.3% |
| Other | 419 | 63.0% | 2.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 286 | 75.5% | 1.0% |
| Trespassing | 228 | 88.2% | 1.3% |
| DUI | 226 | 97.3% | 0.4% |
| Burglary | 151 | 84.8% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Hernando County?
The guilty rate is 52.7% based on 601 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Hernando County?
Adjudication is withheld in 13.5% 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 Larceny / Theft in Hernando County?
The average sentence is 11.0 months, with an average fine of $237 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
40.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Hernando County, Florida (2025). Based on 601 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/hernando
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hernando 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 · 601 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com