Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
140 cases compared (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Palm Beach County, we compared 70 Child Abuse / Neglect cases with public defenders against 70 cases with private attorneys (2025). Both counsel types had similar dismissal rates.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Palm Beach County (2025)
GapDismissal rates are effectively identical across counsel types in Palm Beach County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 140 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 70 | 70 | 33 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 54.3% | 51.4% | 21.2% |
| Guilty Rate | 32.9% | 37.1% | 12.1% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 21.4% | 14.3% | 9.1% |
| Diversion Rate | 45.7% | 48.6% | 78.8% |
| Avg Sentence | 9.9 months | 1 year, 9 months | 0 days |
| Avg Fine | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Avg Probation | 2.7 years | 4.2 years | 0 days |
Important context: Correlation is not causation. Private attorney clients may differ from public defender clients in income, prior criminal history, charge severity, and willingness to go to trial. These factors independently affect outcomes. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
Statewide Comparison (2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect is 1.2% with public defenders and 1.3% with private attorneys (0.1 point difference). Palm Beach County's 0.0 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.2% | 1.3% | +0.1 pts |
Other Charges in Palm Beach County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 17,401 | 0.8% | 18,412 | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 6,706 | 1.3% | 2,377 | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 5,971 | 0.7% | 2,125 | 0.3% |
| Battery | 4,702 | 1.4% | 2,333 | 0.8% |
| Trespassing | 5,117 | 2.3% | 503 | 0.2% |
| Other | 3,586 | 1.6% | 1,803 | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 3,878 | 1.6% | 1,462 | 0.3% |
| DUI | 1,617 | 0.5% | 2,304 | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect compared to 0.0% for public defender clients. This is a 0.0 percentage point difference based on 140 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County is 54.3% with a public defender and 51.4% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Palm Beach County compare to statewide averages for Child Abuse / Neglect counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.2% for public defenders and 1.3% for private attorneys. Palm Beach County's difference of 0.0 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.1 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 140 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/child-abuse-neglect/palm-beach
Conviction includes guilty pleas and adjudication withheld. Data covers 2023–2025 FDLE public court records. Last updated: September 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 · 140 cases analyzed · Palm Beach County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026