Traffic Offense in Holmes County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
220 cases compared (2023-2025) · Holmes County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Holmes County, we compared 30 Traffic Offense cases with public defenders against 190 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Private attorneys achieved a 0.5 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 220 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, Holmes County (2023-2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 0.5 points above public defender clients in Holmes County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 220 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 30 | 190 | 107 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Conviction Rate | 100.0% | 98.9% | 98.1% |
| Guilty Rate | 93.3% | 64.2% | 57.9% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 6.7% | 34.7% | 40.2% |
| Diversion Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| Avg Sentence | 3.7 months | 4.3 months | 2.0 months |
| Avg Fine | $614 | $440 | $244 |
| Avg Probation | 1 year, 9 months | 7.6 months | 6.3 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). Holmes County's 0.5 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County | 0.0% | 0.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 2.4% | 3.6% | +1.2 pts |
Other Charges in Holmes County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 137 | 0.7% | 341 | 1.2% |
| Battery | 48 | 0.0% | 117 | 2.6% |
| Other | 25 | 0.0% | 75 | 6.7% |
| Drug Sale | 15 | 0.0% | 54 | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 18 | 0.0% | 48 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Traffic Offense in Holmes County?
In Holmes County, private attorney clients have a 0.5% dismissal rate for Traffic Offense compared to 0.0% for public defender clients. This is a 0.5 percentage point difference based on 220 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Traffic Offense in Holmes County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Traffic Offense in Holmes County is 100.0% with a public defender and 98.9% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Holmes 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. Holmes County's difference of 0.5 points compares to a statewide difference of 1.2 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Traffic Offense in Holmes County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 220 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/traffic-offense/holmes
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 · 220 cases analyzed · Holmes County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026