Contempt of Court in Orange County, Florida
84 cases (2025) · Orange County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Orange County showed different prosecution philosophy: 58.3% guilty rate, substantially lower than strict counties. Dismissals at 6.0% nearly matched the state's 5.7%. Withheld adjudication was 22.6%—well above the state's 11.1%.
Jail was standard at 67.9%, imprisonment rare. Sentences averaged 103 days, median 90 days. Orange assessed the highest average fines at $564.38, suggesting financial penalties substituted for confinement. Public defenders dominated at 76.2%.
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 — 58.3% of 84 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 84 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 | 173 | 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.
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 | 52 | 50.0% | 5.8% |
| Black | 30 | 70.0% | 6.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 93 | 60.2% | 3.2% | 10.9 months |
| 2024 | 79 | 57.0% | 7.6% | 6.0 months |
| 2025 | 84 | 58.3% | 6.0% | 3.4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 243 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 13 |
Related Charges in Orange County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 6,248 | 20.6% | 33.8% |
| Drug Possession | 3,290 | 65.2% | 1.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,001 | 56.9% | 2.6% |
| Other | 1,533 | 37.8% | 8.5% |
| DUI | 1,432 | 54.7% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 1,251 | 59.0% | 9.0% |
| Battery | 1,333 | 44.3% | 5.9% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,190 | 56.6% | 4.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Orange County?
The guilty rate is 58.3% based on 84 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Orange County?
Adjudication is withheld in 22.6% 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 Orange County?
The average sentence is 3.4 months, with an average fine of $564 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
76.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 22.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Orange County, Florida (2025). Based on 84 public court records; last updated July 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 · 84 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com