Contempt of Court in Orange County, Florida
82 cases (2025) · Orange County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Orange County adjudicated 82 contempt of court cases with a 59.8% guilty rate—notably below statewide patterns—paired with 20.7% adjudication withheld, substantially exceeding the statewide rate of 11.0%. Dismissals occurred in 6.1% of cases, tracking statewide averages, and diversion was minimal, suggesting judicial determination dominated.
Sentenced defendants averaged only 103.4 days of confinement (median 90 days), significantly shorter than comparable cases, indicating lighter violations. Jail affected 68.3% of convicted defendants. The public defender served 75.6% of defendants while 23.2% retained private counsel, reflecting typical contempt demographics. Average fines reached $564.38 and probation averaged 309.2 days, suggesting a large docket of routine contempt violations tied to civil obligations and family court compliance.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Orange County makes it in front of a judge. Of 131 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 74.0% — 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 59.8% of 82 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 82 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 172 | 4.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 10 | 3.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Orange County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Orange County?
The guilty rate is 59.8% based on 82 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Orange County?
Adjudication is withheld in 20.7% 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 Orange County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 3.4 months, with an average fine of $564 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
75.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 23.2% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 51 | 51.0% | 5.9% |
| Black | 29 | 72.4% | 6.9% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 94 | 59.6% | 3.2% | 10.9 months |
| 2024 | 79 | 57.0% | 7.6% | 6.0 months |
| 2025 | 82 | 59.8% | 6.1% | 3.4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 242 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 13 |
Related Charges in Orange County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,244 | 20.7% | 33.8% |
| Drug Possession | 3,283 | 65.4% | 1.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,003 | 56.8% | 2.6% |
| Other | 1,532 | 38.0% | 8.6% |
| DUI | 1,390 | 56.0% | 1.6% |
| Trespassing | 1,249 | 59.0% | 8.8% |
| Battery | 1,319 | 44.7% | 5.9% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,182 | 56.9% | 4.1% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Orange County, Florida (2025). Based on 82 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/orange
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Orange 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 · 82 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com