Weapons Offense in Pinellas County, Florida
393 cases (2025) · Pinellas County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Pinellas County's weapons offense prosecutions aligned closely with statewide patterns, with 393 cases providing the largest data set among studied counties. Guilty verdicts occurred in 83.5% of cases, with adjudication withheld in 9.7%. Dismissals (1.8%) and diversions (2.8%) matched or slightly exceeded statewide rates, suggesting a more typical prosecutorial approach compared to jurisdictions with zero dismissal policies.
Sentences were substantial but less severe than some counties. The median confinement was 913 days, with prison in 49.9% of convictions. Most defendants (94.7%) lacked private counsel, relying instead on public defenders or alternative representation. Fines averaged $137.44.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Weapons Offense charge in Pinellas County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,706 prosecutor decisions on Weapons Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 43.2% — 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 — 83.5% of 393 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 393 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 | 612 | 5.9 years |
| County Jail | 308 | 6.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Weapons Offense sentencing in Pinellas County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Weapons Offense in Pinellas County?
The guilty rate is 83.5% based on 393 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Weapons Offense in Pinellas County?
Adjudication is withheld in 9.7% 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 Pinellas County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.2 years, with an average fine of $137 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
9.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.3% 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 | 262 | 82.8% | 1.5% |
| White | 93 | 83.9% | 2.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 447 | 72.9% | 2.7% | 4.0 years |
| 2024 | 417 | 82.3% | 1.7% | 4.1 years |
| 2025 | 393 | 83.5% | 1.8% | 4.2 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 | 808 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 265 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 155 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 20 |
| Felony | First Degree | 8 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 1 |
Related Charges in Pinellas County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 6,836 | 76.0% | 1.5% |
| Other | 6,400 | 14.4% | 0.4% |
| Traffic Offense | 5,464 | 78.4% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 2,353 | 97.8% | 0.7% |
| Trespassing | 2,539 | 86.2% | 4.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,443 | 75.3% | 2.0% |
| Battery | 2,015 | 55.2% | 3.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,570 | 78.5% | 1.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense in Pinellas County, Florida (2025). Based on 393 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-offense/pinellas
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Pinellas 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 · 393 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com