Robbery in Polk County, Florida
89 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County recorded 89 robbery prosecutions with a 75.3% guilty rate and zero dismissals, placing it between Orange County's lenient outcomes and Duval's maximalist approach. The 15.7% adjudication withheld rate meant a meaningful portion of defendants avoided formal convictions on their records. However, the absence of dismissals and minimal diversion availability at 1.1% indicated prosecution resistance to early case resolution.
Sentences averaged approximately 5 years with a median of 3 years, and 59.6% of convicted defendants received prison time compared to 10.1% in jail. Public defenders represented 49.4% of defendants versus 39.3% with private counsel, signaling mixed economic representation. Average fines were $591. Probation exceeded 3.6 years on average. Polk County's sentencing profile positioned it as moderate within Florida's robbery prosecution landscape.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Robbery charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 269 prosecutor decisions on Robbery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 21.2% — below the 43.4% 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 — 75.3% of 89 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 89 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 153 | 5.9 years |
| County Jail | 22 | 5.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Robbery 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 51 | 72.5% | 0.0% |
| White | 37 | 78.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 45 | 82.2% | 0.0% | 4.0 years |
| 2024 | 87 | 87.4% | 0.0% | 6.2 years |
| 2025 | 89 | 75.3% | 0.0% | 4.9 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 84 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 67 |
| Felony | First Degree | 46 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 12 |
| Felony | Life | 12 |
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 Robbery in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 75.3% based on 89 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Robbery in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 15.7% 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 Robbery in Polk County?
The average sentence is 4.9 years, with an average fine of $591 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
49.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 39.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Robbery in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 89 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/robbery/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 · 89 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com