Contempt of Court in Hillsborough County, Florida
342 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County handled 342 contempt cases, the largest caseload reviewed. The guilty rate of 71.9% was below statewide average, and dismissal rate of 3.8% was -1.9 points from statewide, indicating moderate prosecution vigor. The diversion rate of 6.4% was the second-highest observed, triple the statewide average of 2.5%, meaning Hillsborough steered more defendants into program-based resolution. Withheld adjudication occurred in 13.2% of cases, near statewide average.
Confinement was minimal: only 26.0% received jail time, the lowest rate among counties reviewed, with negligible prison use at 0.6%. Median sentence was 105.5 days, average 178.9 days. The standout feature was attorney composition: 85.7% retained private counsel compared to 14.0% using public defenders—indicating affluent, well-resourced defendants. Hillsborough emphasizes diversion, withheld adjudication, and avoidance of confinement, consistent with higher-income constituency.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,620 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 40.7% — 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 — 71.9% of 342 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 342 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 | 189 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 6 | 3.3 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Hillsborough 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 236 | 69.5% | 3.4% |
| Black | 96 | 80.2% | 5.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 274 | 71.2% | 8.0% | 6.5 months |
| 2024 | 206 | 69.4% | 5.8% | 4.9 months |
| 2025 | 342 | 71.9% | 3.8% | 5.9 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 | 755 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 44 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 23 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Drug Possession | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Hillsborough County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Contempt of Court cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 71.9% based on 342 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Hillsborough County?
Adjudication is withheld in 13.2% 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 Hillsborough County?
The average sentence is 5.9 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
14.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 85.7% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 342 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough 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 · 342 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com