Resisting Officer in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Resisting Officer charges in Miami-Dade County result in conviction at notably high rates compared to statewide patterns. The guilty verdict rate of 50.6 percent reflects how prosecutors in this circuit handle the charge, while the withheld adjudication rate of 26.6 percent—nearly double the statewide average of 14.5 percent—means many defendants avoid formal convictions even after judges find guilt. Together, guilty verdicts and withheld adjudications account for over three-quarters of the 6,189 cases analyzed. The 20.1 percent diversion rate substantially exceeds the statewide average of 4.8 percent, indicating Miami-Dade County aggressively diverts resisting officer cases away from conviction through program completion. Dismissals occur in only 2.1 percent of cases, slightly above the statewide baseline of 1.9 percent.

Defendants convicted or adjudicated face meaningful penalties. Average sentences span 352 days with median time of 180 days, while probation averages 753 days. More than 41 percent of defendants experience incarceration—13 percent in prison and 28.3 percent in jail. Average fines reach $347.62. Public defenders handle the majority of cases at 63.6 percent, with private attorneys representing 24.6 percent of defendants.