Other in Columbia County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
161 cases compared (2023-2025) · Columbia County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Columbia County, we compared 146 Other cases with public defenders against 15 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Public defenders achieved a 0.7 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 161 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025 in this view, so multi-year figures are shown.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Columbia County (2023-2025)
GapPublic defender clients' dismissal rate runs 0.7 points above private attorney clients in Columbia County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 161 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 146 | 15 | 145 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.7% | 0.0% | 2.8% |
| Conviction Rate | 89.7% | 46.7% | 60.0% |
| Guilty Rate | 81.5% | 26.7% | 9.0% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 8.2% | 20.0% | 51.0% |
| Diversion Rate | 7.5% | 53.3% | 37.2% |
| Avg Sentence | 3.8 years | 4.7 years | 20 days |
| Avg Fine | $4,778 | $5,125 | $207 |
| Avg Probation | 3.7 years | 3.0 years | 10.6 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 (2023-2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Other is 10.9% with public defenders and 19.1% with private attorneys (8.2 point difference). Columbia County's -0.7 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 0.7% | 0.0% | -0.7 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 10.9% | 19.1% | +8.2 pts |
Other Charges in Columbia County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 696 | 0.0% | 159 | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 324 | 0.0% | 26 | 0.0% |
| Drug Possession | 307 | 0.7% | 16 | 0.0% |
| Battery | 207 | 0.5% | 16 | 0.0% |
| DUI | 102 | 0.0% | 15 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Other in Columbia County?
In Columbia County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Other compared to 0.7% for public defender clients. This is a -0.7 percentage point difference based on 161 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Other in Columbia County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Other in Columbia County is 89.7% with a public defender and 46.7% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Columbia County compare to statewide averages for Other counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 10.9% for public defenders and 19.1% for private attorneys. Columbia County's difference of -0.7 points compares to a statewide difference of 8.2 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Other in Columbia County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 161 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/other/columbia
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 · 161 cases analyzed · Columbia County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026