Trespassing in Palm Beach County, Florida
2,272 cases (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Palm Beach County trespassing cases featured unusually high diversion rates of 12.2%—nearly four times the statewide average—allowing case volumes to resolve outside formal conviction. Guilty verdicts reached 69.7%, with withheld adjudications at 12.2% aligning with statewide patterns. Dismissals of 1.2% were below average, yet diversion emphasis offset this deficiency.
Sentencing was bifurcated. Average sentences of 169.2 days were exceptionally high, yet the median of 19 days reveals most defendants resolved with minimal sentences. Jail confinement affected 35.1% of cases with minimal prison involvement at 0.7%. Probation averaged 322.5 days, and fines reached $1,000—among the highest recorded. The public defender managed 84.4% of cases. Palm Beach's aggressive diversion program combined with high fines and low median jail time created pathways for substantial numbers of defendants to avoid conviction entirely.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Trespassing charge in Palm Beach County makes it in front of a judge. Of 686 prosecutor decisions on Trespassing charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 6.9% — below the 17.8% 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 — 69.6% of 2,272 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 2,272 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 | 2,106 | 1.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 19 | 15.3 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Trespassing sentencing in Palm Beach County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Trespassing in Palm Beach County?
The guilty rate is 69.6% based on 2,272 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Trespassing in Palm Beach County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.2% 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 Trespassing in Palm Beach County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 5.6 months, with an average fine of $1,000 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
84.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 7.6% 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 | 1,146 | 67.2% | 0.9% |
| Black | 1,121 | 72.3% | 1.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,820 | 72.1% | 1.9% | 1.4 months |
| 2024 | 2,098 | 66.7% | 3.0% | 1.7 months |
| 2025 | 2,272 | 69.6% | 1.2% | 5.6 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 4,573 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1,573 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 43 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Palm Beach County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 18,615 | 27.2% | 0.4% |
| Other | 5,545 | 11.7% | 0.4% |
| Drug Possession | 3,575 | 68.3% | 0.3% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,172 | 64.3% | 0.5% |
| Battery | 2,688 | 45.3% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,093 | 62.0% | 0.5% |
| DUI | 1,692 | 95.6% | 0.3% |
| Sex Offense | 1,002 | 87.7% | 0.1% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Trespassing in Palm Beach County, Florida (2025). Based on 2,272 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/trespassing/palm-beach
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Palm Beach 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 · 2,272 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com