Drug Manufacturing in Pinellas County, Florida
51 cases (2023-2025) · Pinellas County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Pinellas County's approach to drug manufacturing charges reflects uncompromising prosecution of a serious felony. The guilty rate of 88.2% stands well above the statewide average, while the zero dismissal rate falls starkly below the 6.1% statewide benchmark. The withheld adjudication rate of 5.9% represents formal convictions rather than the protective withheld finding, indicating the State Attorney pursues full criminal records. While 5.9% access diversion, this represents alternative handling for a small fraction, leaving the vast majority to face conviction.
Sentences are correspondingly severe. The median term of just under four years—nearly 1,300 days—reflects the charge's seriousness, with average probation matching the sentence length. Nearly two-thirds of defendants received prison sentences, while the remainder split between jail and probation-only outcomes. Critically, just 13.7% had legal counsel, with nearly all relying on public defenders or self-representation, which may constrain defense capacity against manufacturing charges carrying substantial exposure.
Figures cover 51 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Manufacturing charge in Pinellas County makes it in front of a judge. Of 131 prosecutor decisions on Drug Manufacturing charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 74.8% — above the 53.7% 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 88.2% of 51 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 51 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 33 | 4.5 years |
| County Jail | 5 | 3.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Manufacturing sentencing in Pinellas County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 35 | 88.6% | 0.0% |
| White | 14 | 85.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 | 80.0% | 0.0% | 5.1 years |
| 2024 | 18 | 88.9% | 0.0% | 3.5 years |
| 2025 | 18 | 94.4% | 0.0% | 3.3 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 34 |
| Felony | First Degree | 12 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Pinellas County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 6,868 | 75.7% | 1.5% |
| Other | 6,405 | 14.3% | 0.4% |
| Traffic Offense | 5,465 | 78.3% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 2,355 | 97.8% | 0.7% |
| Trespassing | 2,554 | 85.7% | 4.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 2,453 | 75.0% | 2.0% |
| Battery | 2,043 | 54.4% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,579 | 78.0% | 1.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Manufacturing in Pinellas County?
The guilty rate is 88.2% based on 51 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Manufacturing in Pinellas County?
Adjudication is withheld in 5.9% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Drug Manufacturing in Pinellas County?
The average sentence is 3.9 years, with an average fine of $132 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
9.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.9% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Manufacturing in Pinellas County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 51 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-manufacturing/pinellas
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Pinellas 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 · 51 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com