Traffic Offense in Franklin County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
180 cases compared (2023-2025) · Franklin County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Franklin County, we compared 147 Traffic Offense cases with public defenders against 33 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Public defenders achieved a 0.7 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 180 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, Franklin County (2023-2025)
GapPublic defender clients' dismissal rate runs 0.7 points above private attorney clients in Franklin County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 180 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 147 | 33 | 140 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 69.4% | 72.7% | 17.1% |
| Guilty Rate | 59.2% | 48.5% | 7.1% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 10.2% | 24.2% | 10.0% |
| Diversion Rate | 29.9% | 27.3% | 82.9% |
| Avg Sentence | 2.1 months | 11 days | 28 days |
| Avg Fine | $102 | $296 | $45 |
| Avg Probation | 9.2 months | 5.9 months | 6.1 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 (2023-2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Traffic Offense is 2.4% with public defenders and 3.6% with private attorneys (1.2 point difference). Franklin County's -0.7 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 0.7% | 0.0% | -0.7 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 2.4% | 3.6% | +1.2 pts |
Other Charges in Franklin County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 78 | 1.3% | 21 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Traffic Offense in Franklin County?
In Franklin County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Traffic Offense compared to 0.7% for public defender clients. This is a -0.7 percentage point difference based on 180 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Traffic Offense in Franklin County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Traffic Offense in Franklin County is 69.4% with a public defender and 72.7% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Franklin County compare to statewide averages for Traffic Offense counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 2.4% for public defenders and 3.6% for private attorneys. Franklin County's difference of -0.7 points compares to a statewide difference of 1.2 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Traffic Offense in Franklin County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 180 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/traffic-offense/franklin
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 · 180 cases analyzed · Franklin County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026