Criminal Mischief in Santa Rosa County, Florida
126 cases (2025) · Santa Rosa County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Santa Rosa County's criminal mischief outcomes were dominated by withheld adjudication. Guilty verdicts reached 57.9%, but adjudication was withheld in 32.5% of cases—nearly double the statewide average of 17.1%. This meant a substantial majority of defendants (90.4%) faced guilt established without formal conviction. Dismissals were rare at 0.8% versus 2.4% statewide. The pattern reflects a State Attorney strategy that establishes guilt while preserving defendants' records through withheld adjudication rather than conviction.
Sentences for those receiving confinement were substantial. The median jail term was 163.5 days; average sentences extended to 327 days. Probation averaged 490 days, with fines averaging $179. About 39% of defendants faced jail time, and 7.1% received prison sentences. Most defendants (26.2%) were represented by public defenders, with very limited private counsel (5.6%).
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Santa Rosa County makes it in front of a judge. Of 248 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 19.8% — below the 31.9% 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 — 57.9% of 126 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 126 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 | 151 | 6.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 32 | 3.4 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 2.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Santa Rosa 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 | 110 | 57.3% | 0.9% |
| Black | 12 | 66.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 113 | 69.0% | 0.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2024 | 119 | 68.9% | 1.7% | 11.7 months |
| 2025 | 126 | 57.9% | 0.8% | 10.9 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 | 135 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 119 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 104 |
Related Charges in Santa Rosa County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,307 | 60.4% | 4.9% |
| Drug Possession | 961 | 74.1% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 545 | 64.6% | 0.4% |
| Other | 386 | 67.4% | 6.7% |
| Battery | 410 | 55.9% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 397 | 93.7% | 1.8% |
| Resisting Officer | 317 | 74.4% | 2.2% |
| Sex Offense | 157 | 80.3% | 12.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Santa Rosa County?
The guilty rate is 57.9% based on 126 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Santa Rosa County?
Adjudication is withheld in 32.5% 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 Criminal Mischief in Santa Rosa County?
The average sentence is 10.9 months, with an average fine of $179 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
26.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Santa Rosa County, Florida (2025). Based on 126 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/santa-rosa
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Santa Rosa 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 · 126 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com