Highlands County, Florida sentencing data
As of October 5, 2026, according to Florida Department of Corrections records, 601 people sentenced in Highlands County were held in Florida state prisons. Their median sentence is 9 years, about the same as the statewide median of 9 years. 34% are serving 20 years or more, compared with 36% statewide. The most common offense is burglary.
Sentences by offense: Highlands County vs. Florida
Offenses with 10+ people. Median of the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing; life and death sentences not included.
| Offense | People | Highlands median (yrs) | Florida median (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary | 74 | 13 | 10 |
| Murder | 29 | 20 | 25 |
| Sex Offender Registration Violation | 27 | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 26 | 15 | 15 |
| Felon in Possession of Firearm | 26 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Methamphetamine | 26 | 3 | 3 |
| Lewd or Lascivious Molestation | 22 | 15 | 20 |
| Sexual Battery | 15 | 25 | 20 |
| Trafficking in Amphetamine | 15 | 7 | 7 |
| Aggravated Battery | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| Fleeing and Eluding | 14 | 5.5 | 4 |
| Manslaughter | 11 | 20 | 15 |
Race
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 296 | 49% |
| Black | 238 | 40% |
| Hispanic | 61 | 10% |
Groups with fewer than 10 people are not shown. Florida DOC records most Hispanic people as White, so White and Hispanic shares cannot be compared to the census.
Other Florida counties
About this data
Source: Florida Department of Corrections public inmate records. People currently in state prison custody whose longest sentence was imposed in Highlands County, one record per person, using the longest sentence from their most recent sentencing. Criminal history is not in the data, so differences between counties can reflect prior records as well as sentencing practice.