Fraud in Manatee County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
170 cases compared (2025) · Manatee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Manatee County, we compared 130 Fraud cases with public defenders against 40 cases with private attorneys (2025). Private attorneys achieved a 2.5 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Manatee County (2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 2.5 points above public defender clients in Manatee County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 170 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 130 | 40 | 15 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.0% | 2.5% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 93.8% | 67.5% | 53.3% |
| Guilty Rate | 68.5% | 25.0% | 20.0% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 25.4% | 42.5% | 33.3% |
| Diversion Rate | 6.2% | 27.5% | 46.7% |
| Avg Sentence | 2.4 years | 2.6 years | 0 days |
| Avg Fine | $535 | $499 | $112 |
| Avg Probation | 3.4 years | 5.2 years | 9.1 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 (2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Fraud is 1.4% with public defenders and 1.5% with private attorneys (0.1 point difference). Manatee County's 2.5 point difference is above the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee County | 0.0% | 2.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.4% | 1.5% | +0.1 pts |
Other Charges in Manatee County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 2,439 | 2.0% | 2,575 | 1.0% |
| Drug Possession | 2,029 | 1.1% | 226 | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,541 | 2.4% | 317 | 0.0% |
| Battery | 1,172 | 4.0% | 209 | 3.8% |
| Trespassing | 666 | 11.6% | 26 | 7.7% |
| Other | 467 | 4.9% | 193 | 1.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 459 | 3.5% | 77 | 1.3% |
| Drug Sale | 365 | 1.1% | 63 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Fraud in Manatee County?
In Manatee County, private attorney clients have a 2.5% dismissal rate for Fraud compared to 0.0% for public defender clients. This is a 2.5 percentage point difference based on 170 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Fraud in Manatee County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Fraud in Manatee County is 93.8% with a public defender and 67.5% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Manatee County compare to statewide averages for Fraud counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.4% for public defenders and 1.5% for private attorneys. Manatee County's difference of 2.5 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.1 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Fraud in Manatee County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 170 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/fraud/manatee
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 · 170 cases analyzed · Manatee County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026