Contempt of Court in Duval County, Florida
308 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Duval County processed 308 contempt of court cases—the largest sample—with a 75.6% guilty rate. The dismissal rate of 1.0% was dramatically below statewide average of 5.7%, a difference of -4.7 percentage points, indicating extremely strict prosecution where almost no contempt cases are dismissed prior to trial. Withheld adjudication was elevated at 20.1%, but diversion was negligible at 1.0%, leaving conviction as the near-certain outcome.
Despite high conviction rates, Duval imposed lighter sentences: median of 47 days and average of 86.4 days, among the shortest across counties reviewed. However, jail confinement was the rule: 85.4% of convicted defendants received jail time—the highest rate nationwide for contempt. This reveals Duval's approach: strict prosecution leading to conviction but with shorter incarceration and no meaningful diversion. Over 65% were represented by public defenders.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 856 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 35.5% — in line with 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 — 75.6% of 308 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 308 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 | 819 | 3.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 4 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Duval County.
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 | 168 | 73.8% | 0.6% |
| White | 138 | 78.3% | 1.4% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 403 | 81.6% | 0.5% | 3.4 months |
| 2024 | 321 | 75.1% | 2.5% | 4.3 months |
| 2025 | 308 | 75.6% | 1.0% | 2.9 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 | 1,023 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,130 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 4,899 | 73.9% | 0.1% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,441 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.2% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 75.6% based on 308 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 20.1% 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 Duval County?
The average sentence is 2.9 months, with an average fine of $131 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
65.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 19.2% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 308 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/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 · 308 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com