Should You Hire a Private Attorney for Homicide in Florida?
1,336 cases compared (2025) · Homicide outcomes statewide
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
We compared 615 Homicide cases with public defenders against 721 cases with private attorneys across Florida (2025). Public defenders achieved a 1.2 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type (2025)
GapPublic defender clients' dismissal rate runs 1.2 points above private attorney clients.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 1,336 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 615 | 721 | 117 |
| Dismissal Rate | 3.4% | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| Conviction Rate | 81.0% | 86.0% | 82.9% |
| Guilty Rate | 77.9% | 82.4% | 82.9% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 3.1% | 3.6% | 0.0% |
| Diversion Rate | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Avg Sentence | 62.6 years | 49.3 years | 110.3 years |
| Avg Fine | $1,109 | $968 | $423 |
| Avg Probation | 6.5 years | 6.7 years | 6.5 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. Public defenders carry heavier caseloads but have deep institutional knowledge of local courts. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
County-by-County Breakdown (2023-2025)
Counties where both public defenders and private attorneys handled 20+ Homicide cases (2023-2025).
| County | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | 376 | 2.4% | 407 | 3.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Duval | 195 | 1.0% | 420 | 0.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Hillsborough | 61 | 3.3% | 351 | 3.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Palm Beach | 145 | 3.4% | 208 | 3.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Orange | 130 | 5.4% | 114 | 3.5% | -1.9 pts |
| Volusia | 68 | 2.9% | 78 | 1.3% | -1.6 pts |
| Pasco | 68 | 2.9% | 48 | 0.0% | -2.9 pts |
| Leon | 36 | 11.1% | 74 | 4.1% | -7.0 pts |
| Polk | 55 | 1.8% | 47 | 6.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Seminole | 54 | 0.0% | 22 | 0.0% | 0.0 pts |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Homicide in Florida?
Based on 1,336 Homicide cases in Florida (2025), private attorney clients have a 2.2% dismissal rate compared to 3.4% for public defender clients. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What is the conviction rate for Homicide with a public defender vs private attorney?
For Homicide in Florida, the conviction rate (guilty + adjudication withheld) is 81.0% with a public defender and 86.0% with a private attorney.
How does sentencing differ between public defenders and private attorneys for Homicide?
For Homicide cases with sentences imposed, the average sentence is 62.6 years with a public defender and 49.3 years with a private attorney. Average fines are $1,109 (PD) vs $968 (private).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Homicide — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes in Florida (2025). Based on 1,336 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/homicide
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 · 1,336 cases analyzed · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026