Disorderly Conduct in Clay County, Florida

Disorderly conduct cases in Clay County show a starkly different outcome pattern than the statewide norm. Nearly 95 percent of cases end in either guilt or adjudication withheld—a combined rate far exceeding the state average. The withhold rate of 47.8 percent is nearly double the statewide average of 25.0 percent, suggesting that judges in Clay County frequently find defendants guilty but choose not to enter a formal conviction. Meanwhile, Clay County has zero dismissals, compared to a statewide dismissal rate of 2.4 percent. This pattern indicates that disorderly conduct charges in Clay County proceed to resolution rather than being screened out early, and that judges lean toward withheld adjudication as a resolution mechanism.

Sentencing outcomes reflect this leniency in adjudication. The median sentence is just 3 days, though the average of 17.9 days shows some cases receive harsher terms. Approximately 38 percent of defendants face jail time, while most others receive probation averaging 260 days and fines averaging $304. Diversion programs, which allow case dismissal through program completion, are underutilized at 5.1 percent compared to the statewide rate of 7.6 percent, meaning fewer defendants in Clay County have a path to avoid conviction through alternative resolution.