Stalking in Polk County, Florida
105 cases (2025) · Polk County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Polk County convicted 62.9% of stalking defendants and withheld adjudication in 21.9%, tracking statewide patterns. Dismissals (2.9%) aligned with the statewide average of 3.2%, and diversion was modest at 3.8% versus the statewide 6.2%. The 5.7% acquittal rate was notably higher than in most other Florida counties.
Of those convicted, 33.3% received jail sentences (median 6 months) and 12.4% prison. Probation averaged 1.6 years. The counsel breakdown—49.5% public defenders and 28.6% private—reflected a more economically mixed defendant population than Hillsborough's stalking caseload.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Stalking charge in Polk County makes it in front of a judge. Of 239 prosecutor decisions on Stalking charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 35.6% — below the 41.8% 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 — 62.9% of 105 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 105 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 78 | 5.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 38 | 3.8 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Stalking sentencing in Polk County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Stalking in Polk County?
The guilty rate is 62.9% based on 105 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Stalking in Polk County?
Adjudication is withheld in 21.9% 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 Stalking in Polk County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 5 months, with an average fine of $191 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
49.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 28.6% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 75 | 61.3% | 2.7% |
| Black | 28 | 67.9% | 3.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 81 | 53.1% | 4.9% | 1 year, 6 months |
| 2024 | 90 | 77.8% | 2.2% | 1 year, 10 months |
| 2025 | 105 | 62.9% | 2.9% | 1 year, 5 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 197 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 78 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Polk County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,862 | 51.9% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 5,926 | 81.8% | 0.1% |
| Other | 3,588 | 40.2% | 5.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,669 | 70.3% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,448 | 77.3% | 0.8% |
| Battery | 1,836 | 63.0% | 2.7% |
| Trespassing | 1,480 | 77.8% | 4.3% |
| DUI | 973 | 97.8% | 0.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Stalking in Polk County, Florida (2025). Based on 105 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/stalking/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 · 105 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com