DUI in Palm Beach County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
1,382 cases compared (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Palm Beach County, we compared 581 DUI cases with public defenders against 801 cases with private attorneys (2025). Private attorneys achieved a 0.1 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Palm Beach County (2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 0.1 points above public defender clients in Palm Beach County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 1,382 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 581 | 801 | 310 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 95.7% | 95.5% | 98.7% |
| Guilty Rate | 95.7% | 94.5% | 98.4% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Diversion Rate | 1.2% | 2.0% | 0.6% |
| Avg Sentence | 2.3 months | 2.1 months | 1.5 months |
| Avg Fine | $1,096 | $1,056 | $1,131 |
| Avg Probation | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
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 DUI is 1.2% with public defenders and 0.8% with private attorneys (-0.4 point difference). Palm Beach County's 0.1 point difference is above the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 0.3% | 0.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.2% | 0.8% | -0.4 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% |
| Sex Offense | 1,409 | 0.9% | 1,323 | 0.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for DUI in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County, private attorney clients have a 0.4% dismissal rate for DUI compared to 0.3% for public defender clients. This is a 0.1 percentage point difference based on 1,382 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for DUI in Palm Beach County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for DUI in Palm Beach County is 95.7% with a public defender and 95.5% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Palm Beach County compare to statewide averages for DUI counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.2% for public defenders and 0.8% for private attorneys. Palm Beach County's difference of 0.1 points compares to a statewide difference of -0.4 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). DUI in Palm Beach County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 1,382 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/dui/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 · 1,382 cases analyzed · Palm Beach County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026