Larceny / Theft in Bay County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
480 cases compared (2025) · Bay County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Bay County, we compared 441 Larceny / Theft cases with public defenders against 39 cases with private attorneys (2025). Private attorneys achieved a 1.9 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Bay County (2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 1.9 points above public defender clients in Bay County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 480 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 441 | 39 | 53 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.7% | 2.6% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 92.5% | 82.1% | 92.5% |
| Guilty Rate | 82.3% | 64.1% | 73.6% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 10.2% | 17.9% | 18.9% |
| Diversion Rate | 6.3% | 15.4% | 3.8% |
| Avg Sentence | 6.4 months | 1 year, 3 months | 8.9 months |
| Avg Fine | $400 | $554 | $375 |
| Avg Probation | 2.4 years | 2.5 years | 2.7 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. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
Statewide Comparison (2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Larceny / Theft is 1.1% with public defenders and 1.2% with private attorneys (0.1 point difference). Bay County's 1.9 point difference is above the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 0.7% | 2.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.1% | 1.2% | +0.1 pts |
Other Charges in Bay County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,713 | 1.1% | 491 | 2.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 808 | 0.7% | 261 | 0.0% |
| Battery | 735 | 1.6% | 170 | 3.5% |
| Other | 539 | 1.9% | 124 | 4.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 478 | 1.3% | 90 | 2.2% |
| DUI | 407 | 0.2% | 121 | 3.3% |
| Trespassing | 441 | 0.7% | 27 | 3.7% |
| Disorderly Conduct | 261 | 1.9% | 59 | 3.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Larceny / Theft in Bay County?
In Bay County, private attorney clients have a 2.6% dismissal rate for Larceny / Theft compared to 0.7% for public defender clients. This is a 1.9 percentage point difference based on 480 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Larceny / Theft in Bay County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Larceny / Theft in Bay County is 92.5% with a public defender and 82.1% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Bay County compare to statewide averages for Larceny / Theft counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.1% for public defenders and 1.2% for private attorneys. Bay County's difference of 1.9 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.1 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Bay County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 480 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/larceny-theft/bay
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 · 480 cases analyzed · Bay County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026