Perjury in Polk County, Florida
58 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County prosecuted 58 perjury cases with notable prosecutorial firmness. The guilty rate was 72.4%, and critically, zero cases were dismissed—1.8 percentage points below the statewide average and indicating an unusually high conviction bar. Adjudication withheld occurred in 22.4% of cases, slightly above the state average, while diversion programs were used sparingly at 1.7%.
Sentencing in Polk County was lighter than other counties, with an average of 177 days and a median of 75 days. Despite lower average sentences, confinement was still prevalent: 29.3% of defendants were jailed and 6.9% received prison time, with an average of 438 days of probation. Private counsel appeared in 31% of cases, the highest rate among perjury counties examined, suggesting a more diverse client base.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Perjury charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 525 prosecutor decisions on Perjury charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 13.9% — below the 43.8% 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 — 72.4% of 58 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 58 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 | 41 | 2.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 7 | 1 year, 8 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Perjury sentencing in Polk 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 | 39 | 69.2% | 0.0% |
| Black | 18 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 48 | 58.3% | 0.0% | 5.4 months |
| 2024 | 48 | 62.5% | 0.0% | 3.6 months |
| 2025 | 58 | 72.4% | 0.0% | 5.9 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 129 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 17 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 8 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,806 | 51.7% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,912 | 81.5% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,574 | 39.9% | 5.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,655 | 69.9% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,437 | 77.1% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 1,830 | 62.5% | 2.6% |
| Trespassing | 1,467 | 77.6% | 3.8% |
| DUI | 964 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Perjury in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 72.4% based on 58 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Perjury in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 22.4% 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 Perjury in Polk County?
The average sentence is 5.9 months, with an average fine of $121 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
46.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 31.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Perjury in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 58 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/perjury/polk
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Polk 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 · 58 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com