Polk County, Florida sentencing data
As of October 5, 2026, according to Florida Department of Corrections records, 4,563 people sentenced in Polk County were held in Florida state prisons. Their median sentence is 7.5 years, shorter than the statewide median of 9 years. 29% are serving 20 years or more, compared with 36% statewide. The most common offense is burglary.
Sentences by offense: Polk 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 | Polk median (yrs) | Florida median (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary | 511 | 7 | 10 |
| Trafficking in Amphetamine | 280 | 10 | 7 |
| Murder | 221 | 25 | 25 |
| Robbery | 196 | 15 | 15 |
| Felon in Possession of Firearm | 169 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Sexual Battery | 166 | 25 | 20 |
| Methamphetamine | 144 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Aggravated Battery | 140 | 10 | 10 |
| Lewd or Lascivious Molestation | 135 | 25 | 20 |
| Grand Theft | 122 | 3.5 | 3 |
| Lewd or Lascivious Battery | 98 | 10 | 10 |
| Fleeing and Eluding | 93 | 3.5 | 4 |
Race
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,132 | 47% |
| Black | 1,770 | 39% |
| Hispanic | 628 | 14% |
| Other | 28 | 0.6% |
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 Polk 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.