Contempt of Court in Bay County, Florida
34 cases (2025) · Bay County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Bay County prosecuted contempt of court with rare dismissals. The guilty rate reached 85.3 percent while the county dismissed zero cases against a statewide dismissal rate of 5.7 percent. Diversion and withheld adjudication were minimal at 5.9 percent each, leaving few paths around conviction.
Jail confinement was common: 44.1 percent went to jail. Median jail time was 40 days but average 168.7 days, indicating some sentences extended substantially. Fines averaged $443, high for contempt charges. Representation was limited: 53 percent had counsel. The combination of high conviction rates, frequent jail time, and substantial fines reflects strict enforcement of court orders.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Bay County makes it in front of a judge. Of 89 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 16.9% — 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 85.3% of 34 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 34 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 | 77 | 3.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 5 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Bay County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 29 | 86.2% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69 | 89.9% | 0.0% | 5.2 months |
| 2024 | 46 | 89.1% | 0.0% | 5.8 months |
| 2025 | 34 | 85.3% | 0.0% | 5.6 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 123 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 19 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 6 |
| NULL | NULL | 1 |
Related Charges in Bay County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 2,900 | 65.9% | 1.2% |
| Traffic Offense | 2,095 | 55.2% | 0.9% |
| Other | 1,372 | 41.3% | 2.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,109 | 66.4% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 1,044 | 64.5% | 1.9% |
| DUI | 622 | 98.1% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 624 | 66.7% | 1.9% |
| Fraud | 327 | 64.8% | 0.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Bay County?
The guilty rate is 85.3% based on 34 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Bay County?
Adjudication is withheld in 5.9% 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 Contempt of Court in Bay County?
The average sentence is 5.6 months, with an average fine of $443 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
47.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Bay County, Florida (2025). Based on 34 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/bay
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Bay 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 · 34 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com