Hit and Run in Seminole County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
68 cases compared (2025) · Seminole County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Seminole County, we compared 32 Hit and Run cases with public defenders against 36 cases with private attorneys (2025). Public defenders achieved a 12.5 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Seminole County (2025)
GapPublic defender clients' dismissal rate runs 12.5 points above private attorney clients in Seminole County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 68 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 32 | 36 | 32 |
| Dismissal Rate | 12.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 78.1% | 91.7% | 100.0% |
| Guilty Rate | 50.0% | 44.4% | 40.6% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 28.1% | 47.2% | 59.4% |
| Diversion Rate | 6.2% | 8.3% | 0.0% |
| Avg Sentence | 9.1 months | 1 year, 7 months | 2.0 months |
| Avg Fine | $228 | $243 | $187 |
| Avg Probation | 0 days | 2.0 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 Hit and Run is 1.5% with public defenders and 0.5% with private attorneys (-1.0 point difference). Seminole County's -12.5 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminole County | 12.5% | 0.0% | -12.5 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.5% | 0.5% | -1.0 pts |
Other Charges in Seminole County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 2,385 | 1.0% | 1,707 | 0.6% |
| Drug Possession | 2,543 | 0.2% | 920 | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,315 | 0.8% | 958 | 0.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,438 | 1.3% | 456 | 0.9% |
| Battery | 1,047 | 3.2% | 556 | 1.4% |
| Other | 742 | 1.5% | 646 | 5.1% |
| Trespassing | 941 | 4.0% | 80 | 5.0% |
| Sex Offense | 360 | 0.8% | 485 | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Hit and Run in Seminole County?
In Seminole County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Hit and Run compared to 12.5% for public defender clients. This is a -12.5 percentage point difference based on 68 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Hit and Run in Seminole County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Hit and Run in Seminole County is 78.1% with a public defender and 91.7% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Seminole County compare to statewide averages for Hit and Run counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.5% for public defenders and 0.5% for private attorneys. Seminole County's difference of -12.5 points compares to a statewide difference of -1.0 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Hit and Run in Seminole County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 68 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/hit-and-run/seminole
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 · 68 cases analyzed · Seminole County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026