Contempt of Court in Lee County, Florida
77 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County pursued contempt of court convictions at very high rates with few alternative outcomes. The guilty verdict rate reached 85.7 percent—among the highest statewide—while dismissals were 2.6 percent, substantially below the 5.7 percent statewide average. Withheld adjudication was scarce at 2.6 percent. Diversion was minimal at 1.3 percent. Once charged, defendants rarely escaped conviction.
Jail incarceration affected 63.6 percent of cases. Sentences were moderate with median 90 days and average 131.8 days. Attorney representation was limited: only 27.3 percent had counsel on file. The combination of extremely high guilty verdicts, low dismissals, and high jail placement indicates Lee County maintains a strict enforcement posture on contempt violations with minimal tolerance for diversionary approaches.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 534 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 51.9% — above 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 — 85.7% of 77 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 77 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 | 141 | 4.6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Lee 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 | 55 | 87.3% | 1.8% |
| Black | 20 | 80.0% | 5.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84 | 91.7% | 4.8% | 4.0 months |
| 2024 | 95 | 86.3% | 6.3% | 6.0 months |
| 2025 | 77 | 85.7% | 2.6% | 4.4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 241 |
| Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 12 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,039 | 67.2% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,117 | 77.4% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,301 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 686 | 84.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 71.7% | 2.5% |
| Trespassing | 456 | 83.3% | 5.9% |
| Other | 458 | 72.5% | 1.5% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Lee 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 Lee County?
The guilty rate is 85.7% based on 77 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 2.6% 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 Lee County?
The average sentence is 4.4 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
20.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 6.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 77 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 77 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com