Sex Offense in Florida
42,364
Total Cases
83.7%
Guilty Rate
2.6%
Dismissal Rate
5.1%
Withheld Rate
14.5 years
Avg Sentence
Based on 42,364 Sex Offense cases across 64 Florida counties (2023-2025), the statewide guilty rate is 83.7% with a 2.6% dismissal rate. Adjudication was withheld in 5.1% of cases. The average sentence for convicted defendants is 14.5 years, with an average fine of $1,154.
Sex Offense by County
| County | Cases | Guilty Rate | Withheld | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough | 9,729 | 84.7% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 8.4 years |
| Palm Beach | 2,820 | 88.7% | 1.6% | 0.6% | 8.4 years |
| Polk | 2,588 | 57.3% | 27.0% | 0.6% | 6.2 years |
| Sarasota | 2,099 | 89.1% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 26.1 years |
| Pinellas | 2,055 | 91.0% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 6.5 years |
| Volusia | 2,019 | 89.6% | 2.0% | 3.3% | 25.4 years |
| Miami-Dade | 1,711 | 75.2% | 10.9% | 4.4% | 6.9 years |
| Marion | 1,463 | 93.6% | 1.3% | 0.1% | 11.3 years |
| Martin | 1,072 | 97.2% | 2.2% | 0.3% | 51.3 years |
| Orange | 1,067 | 60.2% | 8.6% | 8.3% | 5.4 years |
| Manatee | 1,001 | 85.7% | 4.3% | 7.5% | 12.7 years |
| Duval | 937 | 81.9% | 13.6% | 0.5% | 10.7 years |
| Seminole | 930 | 76.8% | 9.6% | 0.4% | 41.6 years |
| Lake | 920 | 87.3% | 0.9% | 6.3% | 8.6 years |
| Okaloosa | 816 | 90.7% | 0.9% | 3.8% | 6.3 years |
| Broward | 811 | 83.2% | 11.5% | 3.2% | 5.6 years |
| Collier | 782 | 95.4% | 1.3% | 0.1% | 17.9 years |
| Escambia | 765 | 79.5% | 2.4% | 14.0% | 91.7 years |
| Bay | 758 | 79.7% | 6.3% | 3.0% | 12.9 years |
| Pasco | 735 | 90.3% | 3.0% | 0.4% | 9.9 years |
| Alachua | 693 | 92.2% | 1.2% | 0.6% | 6.9 years |
| St. Lucie | 649 | 75.7% | 1.7% | 3.4% | 7.3 years |
| St. Johns | 536 | 86.6% | 9.5% | 1.3% | 7.5 years |
| Osceola | 504 | 81.5% | 2.4% | 8.7% | 75.6 years |
| Santa Rosa | 482 | 81.7% | 4.8% | 9.1% | 9.2 years |
| Hernando | 390 | 92.1% | 4.4% | 0.3% | 10.4 years |
| Citrus | 349 | 93.7% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 8.8 years |
| Leon | 325 | 61.2% | 7.4% | 4.0% | 7.3 years |
| Clay | 271 | 97.4% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 8.3 years |
| Desoto | 270 | 74.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 11.3 years |
| Highlands | 269 | 86.2% | 2.2% | 3.7% | 9.6 years |
| Sumter | 249 | 85.9% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 10.2 years |
| Walton | 230 | 70.0% | 1.3% | 15.7% | 7.9 years |
| Charlotte | 218 | 85.8% | 4.1% | 0.0% | 9.8 years |
| Putnam | 210 | 90.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.1 years |
| Brevard | 167 | 68.9% | 23.4% | 0.6% | 77.3 years |
| Indian River | 123 | 91.9% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 5.9 years |
| Columbia | 122 | 90.2% | 4.1% | 0.0% | 8.0 years |
| Monroe | 119 | 89.9% | 2.5% | 0.8% | 5.6 years |
| Suwannee | 118 | 99.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.7 years |
| Levy | 94 | 97.9% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 7.5 years |
| Jackson | 91 | 94.5% | 4.4% | 1.1% | 6.5 years |
| Wakulla | 76 | 80.3% | 1.3% | 9.2% | 6.2 years |
| Bradford | 70 | 91.4% | 5.7% | 0.0% | 6.2 years |
| Holmes | 70 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 8.7 years |
| Nassau | 67 | 88.1% | 9.0% | 0.0% | 4.5 years |
| Hendry | 58 | 67.2% | 1.7% | 20.7% | 8.1 years |
| Okeechobee | 57 | 86.0% | 3.5% | 7.0% | 4.4 years |
| Gulf | 54 | 79.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.1 years |
| Hamilton | 46 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.2 years |
| Franklin | 43 | 79.1% | 9.3% | 0.0% | 6.2 years |
| Washington | 43 | 79.1% | 11.6% | 0.0% | 4.9 years |
| Gilchrist | 27 | 77.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.1 years |
| Baker | 23 | 78.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.3 years |
| Lafayette | 23 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.4 years |
| Calhoun | 22 | 86.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.1 years |
| Dixie | 19 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.0 years |
| Madison | 19 | 94.7% | 5.3% | 0.0% | 12.8 years |
| Taylor | 19 | 84.2% | 10.5% | 0.0% | 2.9 years |
| Hardee | 17 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.8 years |
| Liberty | 15 | 40.0% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 1 year, 6 months |
| Glades | 14 | 92.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.1 years |
| Jefferson | 13 | 76.9% | 7.7% | 15.4% | 4.7 years |
| Union | 12 | 66.7% | 16.7% | 0.0% | 17.0 years |
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,241 | 84.2% | 2.8% | 15.8 years |
| 2024 | 14,285 | 83.8% | 2.5% | 14.4 years |
| 2025 | 15,798 | 83.2% | 2.4% | 13.2 years |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Sex Offense in Florida?
The statewide guilty rate for Sex Offense is 83.7% based on 42,364 cases from 64 counties (2023-2025).
What is the dismissal rate for Sex Offense in Florida?
The statewide dismissal rate for Sex Offense is 2.6% across all Florida counties.
How does Sex Offense sentencing vary by county?
Sentencing for Sex Offense varies significantly by county. Browse the county breakdown table above to compare guilty rates, dismissal rates, and average sentences across all 64 counties.
What does adjudication withheld mean for Sex Offense?
Adjudication withheld means the court found sufficient evidence of guilt but chose not to formally convict the defendant. This is unique to Florida and means the charge does not appear as a conviction on the defendant's record, though the arrest record remains. For Sex Offense, adjudication is withheld in 5.1% of cases statewide.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 42,364 cases · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026