Drug Possession in Florida
253,254
Total Cases
72.7%
Guilty Rate
1.5%
Dismissal Rate
19.2%
Withheld Rate
11.5 months
Avg Sentence
Based on 253,254 Drug Possession cases across 66 Florida counties (2023-2025), the statewide guilty rate is 72.7% with a 1.5% dismissal rate. Adjudication was withheld in 19.2% of cases. The average sentence for convicted defendants is 11.5 months, with an average fine of $2,148.
Drug Possession by County
| County | Cases | Guilty Rate | Withheld | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinellas | 21,661 | 74.6% | 19.2% | 1.4% | 1 year, 4 months |
| Polk | 17,533 | 79.4% | 14.2% | 0.2% | 7.9 months |
| Hillsborough | 17,469 | 71.8% | 16.7% | 1.9% | 10.3 months |
| Duval | 16,550 | 72.2% | 26.9% | 0.2% | 8.1 months |
| Volusia | 15,291 | 69.8% | 25.4% | 1.1% | 6.0 months |
| Palm Beach | 10,290 | 66.2% | 12.5% | 0.9% | 7.4 months |
| Bay | 10,278 | 68.5% | 16.6% | 1.3% | 9.1 months |
| Orange | 9,214 | 67.6% | 20.9% | 1.2% | 3.2 months |
| Marion | 8,981 | 77.5% | 18.8% | 2.2% | 11.0 months |
| Pasco | 8,302 | 76.1% | 18.0% | 0.2% | 1 year, 5 months |
| Sarasota | 7,590 | 72.3% | 23.0% | 1.9% | 1 year, 3 months |
| Miami-Dade | 6,986 | 65.1% | 28.1% | 0.7% | 6.7 months |
| Escambia | 6,479 | 74.5% | 17.0% | 4.8% | 1 year |
| Lee | 5,953 | 79.4% | 16.4% | 0.2% | 1 year, 2 months |
| Broward | 5,290 | 56.2% | 35.9% | 7.8% | 10.3 months |
| Manatee | 5,094 | 65.7% | 26.0% | 1.0% | 1 year, 6 months |
| Okaloosa | 4,659 | 76.3% | 18.2% | 0.4% | 1 year, 5 months |
| St. Lucie | 4,553 | 73.5% | 11.5% | 7.8% | 1 year, 4 months |
| Lake | 4,332 | 77.5% | 13.4% | 0.8% | 9.7 months |
| Sumter | 4,083 | 62.9% | 29.9% | 0.1% | 1 year, 7 months |
| Seminole | 4,082 | 68.2% | 25.8% | 0.1% | 1 year, 4 months |
| Charlotte | 3,831 | 92.7% | 5.1% | 0.1% | 1 year, 7 months |
| Leon | 3,703 | 67.5% | 17.9% | 1.1% | 8.0 months |
| Santa Rosa | 3,645 | 71.8% | 19.4% | 0.5% | 10.9 months |
| Hernando | 3,268 | 67.9% | 14.9% | 2.8% | 1 year |
| Citrus | 3,206 | 73.1% | 18.1% | 1.2% | 1 year, 5 months |
| St. Johns | 2,813 | 66.1% | 21.9% | 2.3% | 7.7 months |
| Putnam | 2,785 | 76.9% | 18.4% | 0.2% | 9.4 months |
| Alachua | 2,459 | 80.4% | 9.8% | 0.2% | 1 year, 4 months |
| Martin | 2,446 | 66.6% | 16.4% | 6.0% | 1 year, 11 months |
| Brevard | 2,070 | 72.5% | 24.2% | 0.8% | 5.8 months |
| Clay | 1,978 | 70.6% | 25.3% | 0.7% | 9.1 months |
| Indian River | 1,959 | 72.9% | 10.1% | 9.5% | 2.1 years |
| Highlands | 1,896 | 91.5% | 6.0% | 0.5% | 1 year, 2 months |
| Collier | 1,860 | 76.8% | 10.8% | 0.0% | 7.8 months |
| Monroe | 1,748 | 50.9% | 25.1% | 1.5% | 9.2 months |
| Osceola | 1,721 | 76.2% | 16.8% | 1.7% | 5.0 months |
| Nassau | 1,624 | 74.3% | 25.1% | 0.1% | 1 year |
| Desoto | 1,490 | 73.7% | 25.0% | 0.7% | 1 year, 7 months |
| Walton | 1,336 | 72.1% | 18.9% | 5.9% | 11.7 months |
| Hendry | 1,140 | 73.3% | 13.6% | 0.0% | 1 year, 10 months |
| Holmes | 1,072 | 85.5% | 13.8% | 0.6% | 10.0 months |
| Okeechobee | 1,046 | 75.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% | 1 year, 4 months |
| Columbia | 852 | 83.1% | 7.9% | 0.5% | 1 year, 7 months |
| Washington | 726 | 80.3% | 19.6% | 0.1% | 8.4 months |
| Jackson | 698 | 79.4% | 18.1% | 0.1% | 1 year |
| Baker | 642 | 72.6% | 12.6% | 0.0% | 7.2 months |
| Hardee | 628 | 78.5% | 6.4% | 1.0% | 9.9 months |
| Dixie | 599 | 73.5% | 17.5% | 0.2% | 2.0 years |
| Suwannee | 588 | 86.6% | 10.5% | 0.2% | 1 year, 5 months |
| Levy | 561 | 85.4% | 11.9% | 0.0% | 9.4 months |
| Jefferson | 545 | 72.5% | 25.9% | 0.6% | 7.2 months |
| Wakulla | 491 | 75.8% | 18.9% | 2.4% | 7.1 months |
| Bradford | 484 | 90.9% | 8.7% | 0.2% | 1 year, 1 months |
| Franklin | 444 | 73.0% | 12.4% | 0.7% | 6.1 months |
| Calhoun | 341 | 87.1% | 11.4% | 0.0% | 10.8 months |
| Gulf | 300 | 86.3% | 7.7% | 0.3% | 11.9 months |
| Liberty | 275 | 69.5% | 21.1% | 4.0% | 6.7 months |
| Taylor | 260 | 93.5% | 5.4% | 0.4% | 8.4 months |
| Gilchrist | 259 | 72.2% | 14.7% | 0.0% | 4.6 years |
| Union | 183 | 85.2% | 10.4% | 0.0% | 1 year, 2 months |
| Glades | 143 | 67.8% | 21.0% | 0.0% | 10.6 months |
| Madison | 141 | 81.6% | 14.9% | 1.4% | 2.9 years |
| Hamilton | 127 | 85.0% | 11.8% | 0.0% | 1 year, 8 months |
| Gadsden | 104 | 65.4% | 27.9% | 3.8% | 0 days |
| Lafayette | 97 | 70.1% | 26.8% | 0.0% | 4.8 months |
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83,307 | 72.8% | 1.3% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 86,341 | 73.6% | 1.6% | 11.2 months |
| 2025 | 83,606 | 71.6% | 1.5% | 11.2 months |
Related Florida Statute
§ 893.13 — Drug Possession and Sale
Florida Statute § 893.13 criminalizes the possession, sale, manufacture, delivery, and purchase of controlled substances listed in Florida’s drug schedules.
Related Articles
- Florida Conviction Rates in 2024: A County-by-County Analysis
- What Does 'Adjudication Withheld' Mean? Florida's Unique Disposition
- Do Public Defenders Get Worse Outcomes? What Florida Data Shows
- Florida's Pre-Trial Diversion Programs: Who Qualifies and What Happens
- Miami-Dade vs Broward: How Criminal Courts Compare
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Florida?
The statewide guilty rate for Drug Possession is 72.7% based on 253,254 cases from 66 counties (2023-2025).
What is the dismissal rate for Drug Possession in Florida?
The statewide dismissal rate for Drug Possession is 1.5% across all Florida counties.
How does Drug Possession sentencing vary by county?
Sentencing for Drug Possession varies significantly by county. Browse the county breakdown table above to compare guilty rates, dismissal rates, and average sentences across all 66 counties.
What does adjudication withheld mean for Drug Possession?
Adjudication withheld means the court found sufficient evidence of guilt but chose not to formally convict the defendant. This is unique to Florida and means the charge does not appear as a conviction on the defendant's record, though the arrest record remains. For Drug Possession, adjudication is withheld in 19.2% of cases statewide.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 253,254 cases · 2023-2025 · Data last updated March 2026