Child Abuse / Neglect in St. Johns County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
121 cases compared (2023-2025) · St. Johns County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In St. Johns County, we compared 86 Child Abuse / Neglect cases with public defenders against 35 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Private attorneys achieved a 2.9 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 121 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025 in this view, so multi-year figures are shown.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, St. Johns County (2023-2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 2.9 points above public defender clients in St. Johns County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 121 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 86 | 35 | 18 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.0% | 2.9% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 89.5% | 77.1% | 88.9% |
| Guilty Rate | 59.3% | 45.7% | 16.7% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 30.2% | 31.4% | 72.2% |
| Diversion Rate | 10.5% | 20.0% | 11.1% |
| Avg Sentence | 1 year | 2.6 years | 15 days |
| Avg Fine | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Avg Probation | 2.6 years | 3.2 years | 6.0 months |
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 (2023-2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect is 1.4% with public defenders and 1.6% with private attorneys (0.2 point difference). St. Johns County's 2.9 point difference is above the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johns County | 0.0% | 2.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.4% | 1.6% | +0.2 pts |
Other Charges in St. Johns County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,322 | 2.0% | 2,520 | 0.4% |
| Drug Possession | 1,735 | 1.2% | 401 | 0.5% |
| Battery | 866 | 3.1% | 413 | 0.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 951 | 1.1% | 292 | 0.3% |
| DUI | 486 | 4.3% | 489 | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 555 | 3.8% | 204 | 0.5% |
| Other | 355 | 3.1% | 243 | 1.2% |
| Trespassing | 546 | 3.5% | 50 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Child Abuse / Neglect in St. Johns County?
In St. Johns County, private attorney clients have a 2.9% dismissal rate for Child Abuse / Neglect compared to 0.0% for public defender clients. This is a 2.9 percentage point difference based on 121 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Child Abuse / Neglect in St. Johns County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Child Abuse / Neglect in St. Johns County is 89.5% with a public defender and 77.1% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does St. Johns County compare to statewide averages for Child Abuse / Neglect counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.4% for public defenders and 1.6% for private attorneys. St. Johns County's difference of 2.9 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.2 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Child Abuse / Neglect in St. Johns County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 121 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/child-abuse-neglect/st-johns
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 · 121 cases analyzed · St. Johns County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026