Larceny / Theft in Palm Beach County, Florida
3,172 cases (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Palm Beach County prosecuted 3,172 larceny and theft cases—by far the largest caseload reviewed—with markedly lenient outcomes. Guilty convictions reached 64.3%, well below statewide averages. Most notably, diversion programs accepted 25.0% of cases, nearly triple the statewide average of 8.5%, indicating a robust pre-trial diversion infrastructure. Withheld adjudication occurred in 9.1% of cases, and dismissals reached 0.5%.
Sentencing reflected this rehabilitative emphasis. Confined convictions averaged just 251 days, with a median of 69 days—the shortest among all theft counties. Prison affected 9.9% of defendants; 43.4% faced jail time. Public defenders represented 65.1% of defendants while 24.0% retained private counsel. Palm Beach County's high-volume, diversion-heavy approach to theft prosecution offers the most individualized, alternative pathways to adjudication compared to its peer counties.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Palm Beach County makes it in front of a judge. Of 4,309 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 7.5% — below 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 — 64.3% of 3,172 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 3,172 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 4,041 | 3.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 889 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Palm Beach County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Palm Beach County?
The guilty rate is 64.3% based on 3,172 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Palm Beach County?
Adjudication is withheld in 9.1% 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 Palm Beach County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 8.4 months, with an average fine of $42 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
65.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 24.0% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 1,651 | 57.9% | 0.8% |
| Black | 1,503 | 71.7% | 0.2% |
| Asian | 12 | 41.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,081 | 63.3% | 0.6% | 7.3 months |
| 2024 | 3,062 | 65.2% | 0.6% | 9.4 months |
| 2025 | 3,172 | 64.3% | 0.5% | 8.4 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 | Second Degree | 3,273 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 3,145 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 2,764 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 110 |
| Felony | First Degree | 23 |
Related Charges in Palm Beach County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 18,615 | 27.2% | 0.4% |
| Other | 5,545 | 11.7% | 0.4% |
| Drug Possession | 3,575 | 68.3% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 2,688 | 45.3% | 0.5% |
| Trespassing | 2,272 | 69.6% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,093 | 62.0% | 0.5% |
| DUI | 1,692 | 95.6% | 0.3% |
| Sex Offense | 1,002 | 87.7% | 0.1% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Palm Beach County, Florida (2025). Based on 3,172 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/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 · 3,172 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com