Contempt of Court in Palm Beach County, Florida
218 cases (2025) · Palm Beach County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Palm Beach County took a middle-ground approach to contempt prosecution, with a guilty rate of 63.8% and a dismissal rate of 5.0% slightly below the statewide 5.7%. The withheld rate of 12.4% was comparable to the statewide 11.1%, suggesting consistent practice regarding conviction records. Notably, diversion was used in 13.3% of cases, well above the statewide average of 2.5%, indicating the county regularly offered pre-trial programs to resolve contempt allegations.
Jail confinement affected nearly 59% of defendants, with sentences averaging roughly 5 months (median about 3.8 months). Average probation lasted nearly one year. About 31% retained private counsel and 56% relied on public defenders, reflecting a mixed socioeconomic profile. Average fines of $375 were moderate.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Palm Beach County makes it in front of a judge. Of 449 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 9.1% — below 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 — 63.8% of 218 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 218 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 | 438 | 4.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 4 | 2.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Palm Beach 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 | 131 | 57.3% | 2.3% |
| Black | 80 | 73.8% | 8.8% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 224 | 72.3% | 6.7% | 5.6 months |
| 2024 | 252 | 71.0% | 7.5% | 3.6 months |
| 2025 | 218 | 63.8% | 5.0% | 5.0 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 | 607 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 80 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 7 |
Related Charges in Palm Beach County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 18,608 | 27.0% | 0.4% |
| Other | 5,544 | 11.7% | 0.4% |
| Drug Possession | 3,574 | 68.0% | 0.3% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,182 | 63.8% | 0.5% |
| Battery | 2,689 | 45.0% | 0.5% |
| Trespassing | 2,271 | 69.7% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,091 | 61.8% | 0.5% |
| DUI | 1,691 | 95.6% | 0.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Palm Beach County?
The guilty rate is 63.8% based on 218 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Palm Beach County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.4% 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 Palm Beach County?
The average sentence is 5.0 months, with an average fine of $375 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
56.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 31.7% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Palm Beach County, Florida (2025). Based on 218 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/palm-beach
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Palm Beach 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 · 218 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com