Drug Possession in Alachua County, Florida
863 cases (2025) · Alachua County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Alachua County convicted 81.3% of 863 drug possession defendants, with zero dismissals versus the statewide 1.4% rate. Withheld adjudication occurred in just 8.1% of cases compared to 16.9% statewide, indicating a conviction-focused prosecution strategy. Diversion was used in 9.6% of cases, slightly above the 5.6% statewide average, but remained secondary to formal conviction.
Sentencing was severe: an average of 454 days incarceration and 833 days probation. Two-thirds of defendants (68%) received prison or jail time, with 23.5% sent to prison alone. Average fines of $1,160 reflected drug possession as a serious felony. The indigent defendant population (42.8% public defender representation) absorbed sentences nearly double the statewide median, indicating Alachua County prioritizes incarceration and extended supervision as the primary response to possession.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Alachua County makes it in front of a judge. Of 2,583 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 11.3% — below the 36.7% 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 81.3% of 863 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 863 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 | 1,108 | 4.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 668 | 3.0 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 2.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Alachua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 482 | 84.2% | 0.0% |
| White | 375 | 77.6% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 816 | 79.8% | 0.1% | 1 year, 6 months |
| 2024 | 785 | 81.3% | 0.6% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2025 | 863 | 81.3% | 0.0% | 1 year, 3 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 1,647 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 708 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 92 |
| Felony | First Degree | 15 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Alachua County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 863 | 68.7% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 736 | 81.7% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 620 | 63.7% | 0.8% |
| Other | 434 | 71.4% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 422 | 75.6% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 325 | 88.6% | 0.6% |
| Probation Violation | 289 | 94.8% | 3.8% |
| Fraud | 225 | 80.0% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Alachua County?
The guilty rate is 81.3% based on 863 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Alachua County?
Adjudication is withheld in 8.1% 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 Drug Possession in Alachua County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 3 months, with an average fine of $1,160 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
42.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Alachua County, Florida (2025). Based on 863 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/alachua
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Alachua 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 · 863 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com