Assault in Santa Rosa County, Florida
110 cases (2025) · Santa Rosa County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Santa Rosa County convicted 63.6% of assault defendants, below statewide average, while withheld adjudication applied to 20%. Diversion programs resolved 9.1% of cases, above statewide average. Dismissals occurred in only 0.9% of cases, the lowest among assault counties and far below the statewide 2.4% rate, indicating Santa Rosa's prosecution-oriented stance.
Santa Rosa's sentences were among the shortest examined. The median was 75 days and average 431 days. Jail confinement was common at 33.6%, with prison affecting 15.5% of defendants. Public defender representation dominated at 46.4%, with only 11.8% privately represented. Santa Rosa appears to pursue more cases to conviction than dismissal, but when convictions occur, sentences are proportionally lighter.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Assault charge in Santa Rosa County makes it in front of a judge. Of 244 prosecutor decisions on Assault charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 41.4% — below the 47.7% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 63.6% of 110 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 110 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 95 | 3.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 47 | 4.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Assault sentencing in Santa Rosa County.
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Demographics (2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86 | 62.8% | 1.2% |
| Black | 23 | 69.6% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84 | 78.6% | 0.0% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 81 | 63.0% | 0.0% | 2.9 years |
| 2025 | 110 | 63.6% | 0.9% | 1 year, 2 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 139 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 98 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 24 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 14 |
Related Charges in Santa Rosa County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,307 | 60.4% | 4.9% |
| Drug Possession | 961 | 74.1% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 545 | 64.6% | 0.4% |
| Other | 386 | 67.4% | 6.7% |
| Battery | 410 | 55.9% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 397 | 93.7% | 1.8% |
| Resisting Officer | 317 | 74.4% | 2.2% |
| Sex Offense | 157 | 80.3% | 12.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Assault in Santa Rosa County?
The guilty rate is 63.6% based on 110 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Assault in Santa Rosa County?
Adjudication is withheld in 20.0% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Assault in Santa Rosa County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 2 months, with an average fine of $150 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
46.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 11.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Assault in Santa Rosa County, Florida (2025). Based on 110 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/assault/santa-rosa
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Santa Rosa County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 110 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com