Contempt of Court in St. Lucie County, Florida
32 cases (2025) · St. Lucie County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, St. Lucie County handled 32 contempt cases with zero dismissals, matching Santa Rosa's strict no-dismiss approach and falling 5.7 percentage points below statewide. The guilty rate of 62.5% was below statewide, but withheld adjudication at 31.2% was the highest observed across all contempt counties—nearly a third of cases avoided formal conviction. Acquittal occurred in 3.1% of cases, and diversion in only 3.1%.
Confinement was high: 46.9% received jail time. Sentences were moderate-to-substantial: median of 183 days, average of 194.3 days, among the higher observed. Attorney representation was equally split at 37.5% private and 37.5% public defenders, suggesting a diverse economic mix. St. Lucie's distinctive feature is combining zero-dismissal policy with exceptionally high withheld adjudication rates, providing conviction avoidance while maintaining strict prosecution without case dismissal.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in St. Lucie County makes it in front of a judge. Of 114 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 16.7% — 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 — 62.5% of 32 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 32 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 | 59 | 5.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 1 | 2.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in St. Lucie 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 | 18 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 13 | 38.5% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31 | 90.3% | 3.2% | 6.6 months |
| 2024 | 35 | 85.7% | 5.7% | 3.8 months |
| 2025 | 32 | 62.5% | 0.0% | 6.5 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 92 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 5 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in St. Lucie County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,426 | 69.4% | 10.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 761 | 80.3% | 0.4% |
| Battery | 589 | 53.7% | 11.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 619 | 76.1% | 3.2% |
| DUI | 584 | 99.3% | 0.0% |
| Other | 574 | 81.7% | 4.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 383 | 76.2% | 7.3% |
| Fraud | 330 | 70.0% | 4.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in St. Lucie County?
The guilty rate is 62.5% based on 32 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in St. Lucie County?
Adjudication is withheld in 31.2% 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 St. Lucie County?
The average sentence is 6.5 months, with an average fine of $1,050 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
37.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 37.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in St. Lucie County, Florida (2025). Based on 32 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/st-lucie
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for St. Lucie 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 · 32 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com