Larceny / Theft in Hillsborough County, Florida

Larceny cases in Hillsborough County result in guilty findings in roughly two-thirds of cases, with an additional 14.6 percent receiving withheld adjudication—outcomes that align closely with statewide patterns. The county's dismissal rate of 3.3 percent runs notably higher than Florida's 1.8 percent average, suggesting Hillsborough prosecutors or judges screen out more cases before resolution. The diversion rate of 13.5 percent exceeds the statewide average of 8.5 percent, indicating that defendants here have a meaningfully better chance of avoiding conviction entirely through program completion. Acquittals remain rare across the state and in this county.

Defendants convicted or adjudicated in Hillsborough larceny cases face a median sentence of 180 days but an average that climbs to 364 days, reflecting longer sentences in some cases. Jail confinement affects 29.5 percent of defendants while prison is less common at 9.5 percent; most receive probation averaging about 820 days. Fines average $162. Nearly 62 percent of defendants are represented by private counsel, while about 38 percent use public defenders, indicating a mixed-income defendant population.