Drug Possession in Brevard County, Florida
697 cases (2025) · Brevard County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Brevard County processed 697 drug possession cases with a 77.6% conviction rate and 18.5% withheld adjudication, yielding a 96.1% non-dismissal outcome. Dismissals at 0.9% fell below the statewide 1.4%, while diversion was used in just 1.9%—substantially below the 5.6% statewide rate. This county heavily favors formal conviction over alternatives to prosecution.
Sentencing patterns showed a large spread: the median was 44 days, but the average 165 days, indicating some lengthy sentences pulled the mean upward. Nearly two-thirds of defendants (64.7%) faced jail time, though only 6.3% were sent to prison. Probation averaged 575 days. With over one-third relying on public defenders, Brevard's approach emphasizes jail incarceration and probationary supervision over formal prison sentences.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Brevard County makes it in front of a judge. Of 7,411 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 5.9% — below the 36.8% 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 — 77.6% of 697 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 697 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 1,299 | 2.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 131 | 2.8 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Brevard County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Brevard County?
The guilty rate is 77.6% based on 697 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Brevard 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 Drug Possession in Brevard County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 5.5 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
32.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 10.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 483 | 68.3% | 0.6% | 6.4 months |
| 2024 | 869 | 71.3% | 0.9% | 5.7 months |
| 2025 | 697 | 77.6% | 0.9% | 5.5 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| NULL | NULL | 2,049 |
Related Charges in Brevard County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 989 | 73.3% | 1.2% |
| Other | 952 | 27.6% | 25.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 496 | 65.7% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 667 | 62.5% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 370 | 82.7% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 315 | 62.5% | 1.3% |
| Contempt of Court | 291 | 11.7% | 84.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 240 | 65.8% | 0.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Brevard County, Florida (2025). Based on 697 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/brevard
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Brevard 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 · 697 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com