Child Abuse / Neglect in Duval County, Florida
159 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Child Abuse/Neglect cases in Duval County resulted in guilty findings in 52.2% of cases, but with remarkably high adjudication withheld rates of 45.3%—substantially above the statewide 26.1%. Combined conviction or withheld outcomes represented 97.5% of cases. No diversion programs were used, compared to the statewide 10.0%, indicating prosecutors pursue adjudication rather than pre-trial intervention. Notably, private attorneys represented 38.4% of defendants—the highest rate among cases examined—suggesting this charge attracts higher-income defendants or different case composition.
Among confined defendants, sentences averaged 711 days with a median of 183 days, indicating moderate confinement compared to other felonies. Prison affected 13.2% of confined cases while jail affected 29.6%. Probation averaged 1,043 days (2.8 years). The high withheld rate protects defendants from formal convictions while still holding them accountable through probation and potential incarceration. Duval's approach emphasizes judicial discretion and alternative sentencing within the adjudication framework.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Child Abuse / Neglect charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 386 prosecutor decisions on Child Abuse / Neglect charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 41.5% — in line with the 42.9% 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 — 52.2% of 159 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 159 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 | 158 | 4.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 127 | 4.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Child Abuse / Neglect sentencing in Duval County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Child Abuse / Neglect in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 52.2% based on 159 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Child Abuse / Neglect in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 45.3% 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 Child Abuse / Neglect in Duval County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 12 months, with an average fine of $190 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
56.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 38.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 83 | 44.6% | 2.4% |
| White | 74 | 62.2% | 2.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 214 | 67.8% | 0.0% | 2.3 years |
| 2024 | 176 | 58.0% | 0.0% | 2.2 years |
| 2025 | 159 | 52.2% | 2.5% | 1 year, 12 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 369 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 113 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 43 |
| Felony | First Degree | 14 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 10 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,131 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 4,904 | 74.0% | 0.1% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,440 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.5% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Child Abuse / Neglect in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 159 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/child-abuse-neglect/duval
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Duval 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 · 159 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com