Contempt of Court in Monroe County, Florida
69 cases (2023-2025) · Monroe County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Contempt of court cases in Monroe County result in guilty verdicts at a notably high rate: 83.1 percent of the 71 cases ended in conviction, compared to a statewide guilty rate that can be inferred from other outcomes. The withheld adjudication rate of 8.5 percent falls below the statewide average of 10.2 percent, meaning fewer defendants in Monroe County avoid a formal conviction through this Florida-specific mechanism. Dismissals occurred in 7 percent of cases, slightly above the statewide average of 5.9 percent. No acquittals were recorded. The diversion rate of 1.4 percent was substantially lower than the statewide average of 2.8 percent, suggesting Monroe County courts rarely redirect contempt defendants away from prosecution through pre-trial programs.
Among convicted defendants, 71.8 percent received jail time, with median sentences of 76 days and an average of 128 days—indicating some cases involved considerably longer confinement. Probation averaged 371 days when imposed. Counsel representation split nearly evenly between public defenders at 47.9 percent and private attorneys at 52.1 percent, reflecting a balanced mix of represented defendants in Monroe County contempt cases.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 69 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Monroe County makes it in front of a judge. Of 50 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 42.0% — 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 82.6% of 69 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 69 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 50 | 4.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Monroe County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Monroe County?
The guilty rate is 82.6% based on 69 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Monroe County?
Adjudication is withheld in 8.7% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Monroe County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.3 months (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
58.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 42.0% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 53 | 83.0% | 3.8% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25 | 72.0% | 20.0% | 6.3 months |
| 2024 | 32 | 90.6% | 0.0% | 3.8 months |
| 2025 | 12 | 83.3% | 0.0% | 1.4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 68 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Monroe County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 983 | 37.5% | 0.3% |
| Other | 741 | 54.7% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 548 | 54.9% | 1.1% |
| Trespassing | 312 | 89.1% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 271 | 66.4% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 291 | 89.0% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 240 | 80.0% | 1.2% |
| Battery | 218 | 56.0% | 0.5% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Monroe County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 69 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/monroe
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Monroe 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 · 69 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com