Sex Offense in Miami-Dade County, Florida
518 cases (2025) · Miami-Dade County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Miami-Dade County's sex offense outcomes were the most favorable to defendants among large Florida counties. Only 71.6% of cases resulted in conviction—the lowest rate statewide—while 5.2% were dismissed, nearly double the statewide 2.8%. Acquittals occurred in 3.7% of cases, and 14.9% received withheld adjudications. Diversion programs resolved 4.4% of cases, triple the statewide 1.4%, reflecting the State Attorney's willingness to pursue alternative resolutions.
Sentences were moderate, averaging 2,456 days (6.7 years) with a median of 1,826 days (five years). Prison confinement applied to 40.5% of defendants, jail to 15.3%—lower than most counties. Public defenders represented 51.2% of cases, with private counsel at 40.5%, reflecting diverse defendant resources.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Sex Offense charge in Miami-Dade County makes it in front of a judge. Of 7,700 prosecutor decisions on Sex Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 51.5% — above the 26.5% 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 — 71.6% of 518 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 518 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 | 748 | 8.7 years |
| County Jail | 240 | 12.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Sex Offense sentencing in Miami-Dade 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 | 356 | 75.6% | 5.6% |
| Black | 161 | 62.7% | 4.3% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 517 | 78.7% | 3.3% | 5.9 years |
| 2024 | 670 | 75.2% | 4.8% | 7.8 years |
| 2025 | 518 | 71.6% | 5.2% | 6.7 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 359 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 350 |
| Felony | Life | 295 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 233 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 201 |
| Felony | First Degree | 140 |
| NULL | NULL | 117 |
| Felony | Capital | 10 |
Related Charges in Miami-Dade County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 4,534 | 20.9% | 47.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 4,723 | 65.1% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 2,848 | 65.8% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,016 | 52.2% | 2.1% |
| Battery | 1,903 | 45.8% | 1.9% |
| Burglary | 1,187 | 68.8% | 1.0% |
| Fraud | 1,418 | 40.0% | 0.5% |
| Traffic Offense | 1,103 | 56.6% | 5.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Sex Offense in Miami-Dade County?
The guilty rate is 71.6% based on 518 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Sex Offense in Miami-Dade County?
Adjudication is withheld in 14.9% 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 Sex Offense in Miami-Dade County?
The average sentence is 6.7 years, with an average fine of $393 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
51.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 40.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Sex Offense in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2025). Based on 518 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/sex-offense/miami-dade
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Miami-Dade 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 · 518 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com