Battery in Santa Rosa County, Florida
409 cases (2025) · Santa Rosa County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Santa Rosa County battery cases showed a low dismissal rate of 0.7 percent, well below the statewide average of 2.8 percent. However, 20.0 percent ended with withheld adjudication and 18.8 percent were diverted—both above statewide norms—meaning 56 percent of all cases avoided formal conviction. The guilty rate was 55.9 percent, with acquittals rare at 2.4 percent.
Sentences were moderate: median 200 days, average 519 days. Jail placement occurred in 35.4 percent of cases versus prison in 8.0 percent. Probation averaged 632 days. Fines were low at $161 average. Public defenders represented 60.7 percent of cases, with 12.2 percent retaining private counsel—among the lowest private-attorney rates in the battery dataset.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Battery charge in Santa Rosa County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,171 prosecutor decisions on Battery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 49.6% — below the 53.8% 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 — 56.2% of 409 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 409 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 406 | 6.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 116 | 5.1 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Battery sentencing in Santa Rosa County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Battery in Santa Rosa County?
The guilty rate is 56.2% based on 409 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Battery in Santa Rosa County?
Adjudication is withheld in 19.6% 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 Battery in Santa Rosa County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 5 months, with an average fine of $161 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
60.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 12.2% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 333 | 54.1% | 0.9% |
| Black | 54 | 70.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 393 | 64.9% | 0.8% | 1 year, 7 months |
| 2024 | 370 | 55.7% | 0.5% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2025 | 409 | 56.2% | 0.7% | 1 year, 5 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 828 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 299 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 34 |
| Felony | First Degree | 11 |
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 | 74.4% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 544 | 65.1% | 0.4% |
| Other | 386 | 67.6% | 6.7% |
| DUI | 397 | 93.7% | 1.8% |
| Resisting Officer | 317 | 75.1% | 2.2% |
| Sex Offense | 157 | 80.3% | 12.1% |
| Trespassing | 144 | 84.0% | 0.0% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Battery in Santa Rosa County, Florida (2025). Based on 409 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/battery/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 · 409 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com