Contempt of Court in Alachua County, Florida
64 cases (2023-2025) · Alachua County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Contempt of Court charges in Alachua County result in guilty verdicts at a notably high rate of 92.2 percent, compared to a statewide withheld adjudication rate of 10.2 percent that appears rarely used locally at just 3.1 percent. The county has recorded zero dismissals and zero diversions in 64 cases, departing sharply from the statewide dismissal average of 5.9 percent. This pattern suggests the State Attorney's office in this circuit pursues contempt cases aggressively and judges impose formal guilt findings rather than withholding adjudication, treating this charge with severity.
Sentencing reflects that approach: defendants average 130 days confinement with a median of 122 days, paired with probation averaging nearly 490 days. Nearly two-thirds of defendants (65.6 percent) received jail time. Public defenders represented 40.6 percent of defendants while only 3.1 percent retained private counsel, indicating most contempt defendants faced resource constraints during prosecution. Fines averaged less than $19, making confinement and probation the primary sanctions in Alachua County's contempt outcomes.
Figures cover 64 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Alachua County makes it in front of a judge. Of 54 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 13.0% — below the 38.4% 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 92.2% of 64 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 64 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 43 | 4.4 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Alachua County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 41 | 92.7% | 0.0% |
| White | 23 | 91.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 34 | 88.2% | 0.0% | 2.5 months |
| 2024 | 19 | 94.7% | 0.0% | 6.5 months |
| 2025 | 11 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 6.6 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 62 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Alachua County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 863 | 68.7% | 0.0% |
| Drug Possession | 863 | 81.3% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 736 | 81.7% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 620 | 63.7% | 0.8% |
| Other | 434 | 71.4% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 422 | 75.6% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 325 | 88.6% | 0.6% |
| Probation Violation | 289 | 94.8% | 3.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Alachua County?
The guilty rate is 92.2% based on 64 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Alachua County?
Adjudication is withheld in 3.1% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Contempt of Court in Alachua County?
The average sentence is 4.4 months, with an average fine of $19 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
39.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.1% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Alachua County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 64 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/alachua
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Alachua 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 · 64 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com