Do Private Attorneys Get Better Outcomes in Florida?

We analyzed 858,555 Florida criminal cases (2023–2025) to compare outcomes for defendants represented by public defenders vs those who hired private attorneys. The data covers 35 charge categories across all 66 counties.

2.8%
Public Defender Dismissal Rate
3.7%
Private Attorney Dismissal Rate
+0.9 pts
Private Attorney Advantage

Important context: Correlation is not causation. Private attorney clients may have different case characteristics, financial resources, prior records, and charge severity compared to public defender clients. These differences — not counsel type alone — may explain outcome variations. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.

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Outcomes by Charge Category

Click any charge to see the full county-by-county breakdown.

Charge PD Cases PD Dismissal Private Cases Private Dismissal Difference
Traffic Offense 79,145 2.4% 89,748 3.6% +1.2 pts
Drug Possession 97,217 1.0% 36,954 1.3% +0.3 pts
Larceny / Theft 58,603 1.4% 23,161 1.3% -0.1 pts
Battery 45,946 2.7% 21,555 1.9% -0.8 pts
Other 36,212 10.7% 29,370 19.5% +8.8 pts
Resisting Officer 35,017 2.3% 15,329 1.4% -0.9 pts
Trespassing 34,862 5.0% 6,711 3.5% -1.5 pts
DUI 16,589 1.3% 21,570 0.9% -0.4 pts
Sex Offense 11,639 2.3% 15,207 2.0% -0.3 pts
Fraud 15,272 1.3% 9,572 1.1% -0.2 pts
Burglary 15,353 1.2% 7,121 1.4% +0.2 pts
Weapons Offense 10,338 2.0% 7,913 1.6% -0.4 pts
Criminal Mischief 11,492 2.6% 4,895 1.4% -1.2 pts
Assault 7,781 2.7% 4,114 1.7% -1.0 pts
Hit and Run 5,098 1.7% 6,340 0.9% -0.8 pts
Disorderly Conduct 5,980 3.1% 2,761 1.0% -2.1 pts
Drug Sale 4,646 0.8% 3,156 0.7% -0.1 pts
Vehicle Theft 5,313 1.1% 1,944 1.6% +0.5 pts
Contempt of Court 5,041 6.6% 1,941 6.3% -0.3 pts
Child Abuse / Neglect 3,606 1.3% 2,883 1.6% +0.3 pts
Probation Violation 4,810 3.5% 1,501 3.1% -0.4 pts
Drug Trafficking 2,790 1.8% 3,475 2.4% +0.6 pts
Robbery 2,989 1.2% 1,839 1.6% +0.4 pts
Homicide 1,814 2.5% 2,005 1.9% -0.6 pts
Intimidation / Threats 2,100 1.9% 1,615 1.9% 0.0 pts
Stolen Property 2,227 2.5% 1,220 2.0% -0.5 pts
Forgery 1,645 1.0% 1,377 0.6% -0.4 pts
Stalking 1,447 3.6% 1,028 2.3% -1.3 pts
Perjury 1,543 1.7% 903 1.3% -0.4 pts
Kidnapping 894 1.6% 794 1.1% -0.5 pts
Escape / Failure to Appear 1,247 31.8% 326 26.7% -5.1 pts
Drug Manufacturing 299 0.7% 269 0.4% -0.3 pts
Arson 379 2.4% 175 1.1% -1.3 pts
Domestic Violence 179 1.7% 122 4.1% +2.4 pts
Embezzlement 57 1.8% 91 0.0% -1.8 pts

Frequently Asked Questions

Across 858,555 Florida criminal cases (2023–2025), private attorney clients have a 3.7% dismissal rate compared to 2.8% for public defender clients — a difference of 0.9 percentage points. However, this does not prove causation. Private attorney clients may have different case characteristics, financial resources, and charge severity profiles.
The decision depends on your specific situation. Our data shows outcome differences between counsel types, but many factors influence results including case complexity, evidence strength, and defendant circumstances. A private attorney may offer more dedicated time and resources, while public defenders have extensive courtroom experience in their jurisdiction.
Private attorney fees in Florida vary by charge severity. Misdemeanor cases typically cost $2,000–$5,000, DUI cases $3,000–$10,000, and felony cases $5,000–$25,000+. Some attorneys offer flat fees while others bill hourly at $200–$500 per hour. Many offer free initial consultations.

Conviction includes guilty pleas and adjudication withheld. Data covers 2023–2025 FDLE public court records. Last updated: March 2026

Important: Differences in outcomes between public defenders and private attorneys may reflect differences in case complexity, defendant resources, charge severity, and other factors — not solely attorney quality. These statistics do not predict individual case outcomes.

Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 858,555 cases analyzed · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026