Larceny / Theft in Washington County, Florida
259 cases (2023-2025) · Washington County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Larceny cases in Washington County show a starkly different outcome pattern than the state average. Nearly 41 percent of defendants received withheld adjudication—a Florida-specific outcome where guilt is found but no formal conviction is recorded—compared to just 16 percent statewide. Meanwhile, guilty verdicts occurred in 59 percent of cases, and no cases were dismissed, acquitted, or diverted to pre-trial programs. This stands in sharp contrast to the statewide dismissal rate of 1.8 percent, suggesting Washington County's State Attorney pursues theft charges more aggressively and that judges here are more inclined to withhold adjudication rather than convict outright.
Sentences reflect the county's moderate approach to confinement. The median sentence was 60 days, though the average stretched to 240 days due to longer outlier cases. Nearly 40 percent of defendants served jail time and about 9 percent received prison sentences, while fines averaged $296. Probation was substantial—averaging 821 days—making post-sentence supervision the primary punishment mechanism. Only about one-fifth of defendants were represented by a public defender, suggesting most had private counsel or limited representation access.
Figures cover 259 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Washington County makes it in front of a judge. Of 71 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 12.7% — 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 59.1% of 259 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 259 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 103 | 3.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 24 | 2.3 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Washington County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 186 | 59.1% | 0.0% |
| Black | 60 | 66.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 160 | 45.0% | 0.0% | 8.3 months |
| 2024 | 71 | 83.1% | 0.0% | 8.6 months |
| 2025 | 28 | 78.6% | 0.0% | 5.2 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 110 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 95 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 54 |
Related Charges in Washington County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 231 | 78.8% | 0.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 136 | 55.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 84 | 78.6% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 64 | 76.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 67 | 71.6% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 31 | 83.9% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 92 (2023-2025) | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| Assault | 76 (2023-2025) | 71.1% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Washington County?
The guilty rate is 59.1% based on 259 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Washington County?
Adjudication is withheld in 40.9% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Washington County?
The average sentence is 8.0 months, with an average fine of $296 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
22.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.2% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Washington County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 259 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/washington
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Washington 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 · 259 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com