Child Abuse / Neglect in Palm Beach County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
In Palm Beach County, we compared 249 Child Abuse / Neglect cases with public defenders against 254 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Both counsel types had similar dismissal rates.
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 249 | 254 | 106 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 47.0% | 60.2% | 13.2% |
| Guilty Rate | 30.1% | 46.9% | 5.7% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 16.9% | 13.4% | 7.5% |
| Diversion Rate | 50.2% | 39.4% | 86.8% |
| Avg Sentence | 1 year, 6 months | 6.3 years | 1 year |
| Avg Fine | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Avg Probation | 2.5 years | 3.8 years | 4.3 years |
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
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect is 1.3% with public defenders and 1.6% with private attorneys (0.3 point difference). Palm Beach County's 0.0 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.3% | 1.6% | +0.3 pts |
Other Charges in Palm Beach County
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 17,353 | 0.8% | 18,395 | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 6,696 | 1.3% | 2,370 | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 5,955 | 0.7% | 2,179 | 0.2% |
| Battery | 4,702 | 1.3% | 2,357 | 0.7% |
| Trespassing | 5,106 | 2.3% | 505 | 0.2% |
| Other | 3,575 | 1.6% | 1,807 | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 3,879 | 1.6% | 1,473 | 0.3% |
| DUI | 1,632 | 0.5% | 2,382 | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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 · 503 cases analyzed · Palm Beach County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026