Disorderly Conduct in Sarasota County, Florida
146 cases (2025) · Sarasota County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, disorderly conduct in Sarasota County resulted in guilty findings in 65.8% of cases and withheld adjudication in 18.5%. Sarasota demonstrated a strong reliance on diversion programs, with 12.3% of cases diverted—notably above the statewide average of 7.8%—and a dismissal rate of 1.4% that was slightly below the state average of 2.3%.
Defendants received longer sentences than typical, averaging 36 days with a median of 30 days. Probation averaged 181 days, and fines were substantially higher than in most counties, averaging $405. Jail time affected 17.1% of defendants. The data suggests Sarasota employs a balanced approach emphasizing diversion for some cases while imposing more substantial sentences for those prosecuted to conviction.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Disorderly Conduct charge in Sarasota County makes it in front of a judge. Of 325 prosecutor decisions on Disorderly Conduct charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 7.4% — below the 34.1% 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 — 65.8% of 146 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 146 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 | 53 | 1.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Disorderly Conduct sentencing in Sarasota County.
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 | 130 | 63.8% | 1.5% |
| Black | 15 | 86.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 97 | 62.9% | 4.1% | 1.2 months |
| 2024 | 132 | 50.8% | 2.3% | 22 days |
| 2025 | 146 | 65.8% | 1.4% | 1.2 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 | Second Degree | 373 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Sarasota County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,328 | 50.1% | 2.8% |
| Drug Possession | 2,404 | 75.9% | 1.2% |
| Other | 1,063 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,028 | 64.1% | 2.5% |
| DUI | 711 | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 685 | 57.7% | 0.9% |
| Sex Offense | 561 | 78.3% | 0.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 594 | 74.1% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Disorderly Conduct in Sarasota County?
The guilty rate is 65.8% based on 146 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Disorderly Conduct in Sarasota County?
Adjudication is withheld in 18.5% 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 Disorderly Conduct in Sarasota County?
The average sentence is 1.2 months, with an average fine of $405 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Disorderly Conduct in Sarasota County, Florida (2025). Based on 146 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/disorderly-conduct/sarasota
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sarasota 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 · 146 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com