Contempt of Court in Florida
Based on 12,192 Contempt of Court cases across 59 Florida counties (2023-2025), the statewide guilty rate is 68.6% with a 13.4% dismissal rate. Adjudication was withheld in 12.2% of cases. The average sentence for convicted defendants is 5.2 months, with an average fine of $231.
13.4% of Contempt of Court cases in Florida are dismissed — but outcomes vary widely by county. A defense attorney can review your situation — free, no obligation.
Ask a Florida attorney — freeContempt of Court by County
| County | Cases | Guilty Rate | Withheld | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duval | 1,031 | 77.6% | 19.3% | 1.3% | 3.4 months |
| Brevard | 1,011 | 11.4% | 2.7% | 84.9% | 3.0 months |
| Hillsborough | 819 | 71.2% | 13.3% | 5.5% | 5.7 months |
| Pinellas | 728 | 77.1% | 14.6% | 5.4% | 6.7 months |
| Palm Beach | 693 | 68.5% | 10.8% | 6.5% | 4.6 months |
| Pasco | 602 | 75.6% | 17.3% | 1.8% | 5.2 months |
| Polk | 482 | 78.2% | 14.5% | 2.3% | 4.8 months |
| Okeechobee | 451 | 12.2% | 0.4% | 87.1% | 4.0 months |
| Okaloosa | 409 | 76.0% | 11.7% | 1.0% | 4.8 months |
| Miami-Dade | 397 | 58.2% | 33.8% | 4.5% | 6.9 months |
| Hernando | 388 | 87.1% | 5.2% | 1.5% | 3.9 months |
| Escambia | 376 | 80.1% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 5.5 months |
| Marion | 340 | 89.4% | 7.9% | 0.9% | 4.7 months |
| Volusia | 325 | 70.8% | 17.2% | 5.2% | 3.0 months |
| Orange | 256 | 58.2% | 24.2% | 5.1% | 6.6 months |
| Sarasota | 256 | 74.2% | 13.7% | 1.6% | 9.0 months |
| Broward | 239 | 68.6% | 23.4% | 6.7% | 4.3 months |
| Santa Rosa | 233 | 75.5% | 13.7% | 1.3% | 5.9 months |
| Seminole | 233 | 80.3% | 11.6% | 3.0% | 4.5 months |
| Lee | 217 | 87.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.2 months |
| Manatee | 201 | 77.6% | 10.0% | 6.5% | 4.9 months |
| St. Johns | 186 | 70.4% | 14.0% | 6.5% | 3.6 months |
| Leon | 170 | 46.5% | 22.9% | 7.1% | 3.2 months |
| Clay | 163 | 81.6% | 16.6% | 1.2% | 3.0 months |
| Collier | 159 | 75.5% | 12.6% | 1.3% | 6.7 months |
| Osceola | 157 | 72.6% | 15.3% | 7.0% | 2.8 years |
| Putnam | 153 | 87.6% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 3.6 months |
| Lake | 150 | 85.3% | 4.7% | 6.0% | 7.1 months |
| Bay | 148 | 88.5% | 4.7% | 0.0% | 5.3 months |
| Walton | 117 | 82.9% | 6.8% | 5.1% | 4.4 months |
| Citrus | 106 | 89.6% | 7.5% | 1.9% | 6.5 months |
| St. Lucie | 98 | 79.6% | 14.3% | 3.1% | 5.6 months |
| Highlands | 87 | 96.6% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 5.2 months |
| Sumter | 72 | 84.7% | 13.9% | 0.0% | 5.6 months |
| Monroe | 71 | 83.1% | 8.5% | 7.0% | 4.3 months |
| Charlotte | 70 | 88.6% | 4.3% | 7.1% | 5.5 months |
| Martin | 69 | 82.6% | 1.4% | 13.0% | 5.5 months |
| Alachua | 64 | 92.2% | 3.1% | 0.0% | 4.3 months |
| Indian River | 50 | 94.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% | 5.6 months |
| Nassau | 39 | 82.1% | 15.4% | 0.0% | 3.4 months |
| Wakulla | 29 | 86.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.8 months |
| Taylor | 28 | 92.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.5 months |
| Hendry | 27 | 77.8% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 5.0 months |
| Hardee | 26 | 84.6% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4.2 months |
| Levy | 26 | 88.5% | 11.5% | 0.0% | 4.7 months |
| Columbia | 25 | 96.0% | 4.0% | 0.0% | 3.4 months |
| Gulf | 23 | 91.3% | 0.0% | 4.3% | 3.9 months |
| Liberty | 23 | 47.8% | 4.3% | 17.4% | 5.3 months |
| Washington | 23 | 91.3% | 8.7% | 0.0% | 3.0 months |
| Jackson | 22 | 90.9% | 9.1% | 0.0% | 5.9 months |
| Baker | 21 | 90.5% | 9.5% | 0.0% | 3.1 months |
| Suwannee | 16 | 93.8% | 6.2% | 0.0% | 6.3 months |
| Calhoun | 14 | 78.6% | 21.4% | 0.0% | 1.4 months |
| Jefferson | 14 | 78.6% | 14.3% | 7.1% | 4.8 months |
| Desoto | 13 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.0 months |
| Glades | 13 | 92.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.2 months |
| Franklin | 12 | 66.7% | 25.0% | 0.0% | 3.2 months |
| Holmes | 11 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.8 months |
| Dixie | 10 | 70.0% | 20.0% | 0.0% | 1.5 months |
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,484 | 70.4% | 12.6% | 5.8 months |
| 2024 | 3,880 | 67.0% | 15.4% | 4.4 months |
| 2025 | 3,794 | 68.2% | 12.7% | 4.8 months |
Related Florida Statute
§ 38.22 / Florida Rules of Court — Contempt of Court
Florida Statute § 38.22 / Florida Rules of Court criminalizes contempt of court, which encompasses willful disobedience of court orders, disruptive behavior in court proceedings, or failure to comply with judicial mandates. This statute grants courts broad authority to maintain order and enforce compliance with their directives through various sanctions.
Related Guides
Facing Contempt of Court Charges?
Get matched with a Florida defense attorney who handles Contempt of Court cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 12,192 cases · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026