Larceny / Theft in Sarasota County, Florida
1,028 cases (2025) · Sarasota County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, larceny cases in Sarasota County resulted in guilty findings in 64.1% of cases. Adjudication withheld was notably high at 21.4%, well above the statewide average of 15.6%, meaning one in five cases resulted in guilt findings without formal conviction. Dismissal and diversion rates were both above statewide averages at 2.5% and 10.1%, indicating moderate prosecutorial flexibility and diversion program availability.
Sentences were longer than most other counties, with a median of about six months and average of over one year. Probation averaged over two years, and fines averaged $503, among the highest measured. Confinement was relatively light—only 8.2% to prison and 18.2% to jail. Nearly all defendants were represented by public defenders. The combination of high withheld rates, longer sentences, and higher fines suggests Sarasota County emphasizes record protection while enforcing meaningful consequences.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Sarasota County makes it in front of a judge. Of 2,073 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 4.6% — 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 — 64.1% of 1,028 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 1,028 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 | 548 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 252 | 2.7 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 4.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Sarasota County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 767 | 63.9% | 2.7% |
| Black | 230 | 67.4% | 1.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,019 | 58.6% | 3.4% | 1 year, 2 months |
| 2024 | 931 | 62.5% | 1.1% | 1 year, 1 months |
| 2025 | 1,028 | 64.1% | 2.5% | 1 year, 1 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 1,277 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 825 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 809 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 49 |
| Felony | First Degree | 16 |
| NULL | Second Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Sarasota County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,328 | 50.1% | 2.8% |
| Drug Possession | 2,404 | 75.9% | 1.2% |
| Other | 1,063 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| DUI | 711 | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 685 | 57.7% | 0.9% |
| Sex Offense | 561 | 78.3% | 0.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 594 | 74.1% | 1.3% |
| Trespassing | 443 | 78.6% | 2.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Sarasota County?
The guilty rate is 64.1% based on 1,028 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Sarasota County?
Adjudication is withheld in 21.4% 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 Sarasota County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 1 months, with an average fine of $503 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Sarasota County, Florida (2025). Based on 1,028 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/sarasota
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sarasota 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 · 1,028 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com