Contempt of Court in Hardee County, Florida
Contempt of Court defendants in Hardee County face substantially harsher outcomes than the statewide norm. The guilty rate here is 84.6 percent compared to a 10.2 percent withheld rate statewide, suggesting the local State Attorney pursues these charges aggressively with minimal allowance for adjudication withheld outcomes. Dismissals are rare in Hardee County at 3.8 percent, running 2.1 percentage points below the statewide average, and diversion programs appear to play almost no role in resolving these cases. The absence of acquittals across all 26 cases indicates that defendants who go to trial in Hardee County typically lose.
Nearly 70 percent of convicted defendants are sentenced to jail time, with an average sentence of 127 days and a median of 105 days. This custody rate substantially exceeds outcomes in counties where probation-only or diversionary resolutions are more common. More than three-quarters of defendants rely on public defenders, and average fines remain modest at roughly $180, suggesting sentences prioritize confinement over financial penalties. Probation accompanies most sentences at an average of 319 days.
3.8% of Contempt of Court cases in Hardee County are dismissed — below Florida's statewide average of 13.4%. Hardee County is tougher than typical on these cases, so the attorney you pick matters more here.
Ask a Hardee County attorney — freeOutcome Breakdown
Sentencing Breakdown
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 18 | 4.2 months |
Counsel Analysis
Demographics
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 | 18 | 83.3% | 5.6% |
Age Distribution
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 87.5% | 12.5% | 3.4 months |
| 2024 | 6 | 83.3% | 0.0% | 4.3 months |
| 2025 | 12 | 83.3% | 0.0% | 4.9 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 22 |
| Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 4 |
Related Charges in Hardee County
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,107 | 56.1% | 13.6% |
| Drug Possession | 628 | 78.5% | 1.0% |
| Other | 292 | 67.8% | 10.3% |
| Battery | 243 | 62.1% | 11.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 209 | 80.4% | 2.9% |
| Trespassing | 153 | 51.0% | 17.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 144 | 68.8% | 6.9% |
| DUI | 124 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hardee 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 · 26 cases · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026