Trespassing in Pinellas County, Florida

Pinellas County prosecutes trespassing cases aggressively. The 87.5 percent guilty rate far exceeds typical outcomes for this charge, and adjudication is withheld in only 5.7 percent of cases compared to the statewide average of 11.5 percent. Dismissals occur in 4.2 percent of Pinellas cases, slightly above the statewide average of 3.8 percent, suggesting the county's State Attorney maintains consistently strict charging standards. Pre-trial diversion—which allows defendants to avoid conviction entirely—is rare here at 0.6 percent, compared to 3.1 percent statewide. This pattern indicates Pinellas County takes a conviction-focused approach to trespassing rather than seeking alternative resolutions.

Confinement is the dominant sanction. Nearly half of defendants spend time in jail, with an average sentence of 35 days, though half receive 10 days or less. Probation is lengthy, averaging 296 days. The average fine is modest at $201. Prison incarceration is minimal at 0.1 percent. The data shows few defendants had private counsel, suggesting most relied on public defenders to navigate these cases.