Weapons Offense in Miami-Dade County, Florida
679 cases (2025) · Miami-Dade County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Miami-Dade County handled 680 weapons offense cases with a 71.6% conviction rate and adjudication withheld in 17.4% of cases. Dismissals occurred in 4.4% of cases, notably higher than the statewide rate of 1.5%. Pre-trial diversion was offered in 5.9% of cases, double the statewide average, suggesting the State Attorney invests in alternative resolution paths.
Sentences average 1,396 days with a median of 548 days. Prison time was imposed on 37.4% of defendants and jail on 23.5%. Average probation runs 1,264 days. The majority of defendants used public defenders (54.3%), with 29.3% retaining private counsel, reflecting the county's economic and demographic composition.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Weapons Offense charge in Miami-Dade County makes it in front of a judge. Of 7,647 prosecutor decisions on Weapons Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 43.0% — above the 34.5% 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 — 71.7% of 679 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 679 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) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 984 | 5.6 years |
| County Jail | 648 | 7.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Weapons Offense sentencing in Miami-Dade County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Weapons Offense in Miami-Dade County?
The guilty rate is 71.7% based on 679 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Weapons Offense in Miami-Dade County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.2% 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 Weapons Offense in Miami-Dade County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 3.8 years, with an average fine of $438 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
55.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 29.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 456 | 70.4% | 5.0% |
| White | 223 | 74.4% | 3.1% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,368 | 54.5% | 1.5% | 3.7 years |
| 2024 | 966 | 64.6% | 1.4% | 3.4 years |
| 2025 | 679 | 71.7% | 4.4% | 3.8 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 | Second Degree | 1,414 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 839 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 498 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 199 |
| Felony | First Degree | 46 |
| NULL | NULL | 17 |
Related Charges in Miami-Dade County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 4,568 | 20.8% | 47.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 4,727 | 65.2% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 2,849 | 65.8% | 0.7% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,016 | 52.2% | 2.1% |
| Battery | 1,905 | 46.0% | 1.9% |
| Burglary | 1,192 | 69.1% | 1.0% |
| Fraud | 1,417 | 40.0% | 0.5% |
| Traffic Offense | 1,104 | 56.7% | 5.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2025). Based on 679 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-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 · 679 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com