Drug Possession in Brevard County, Florida
697 cases (2025) · Brevard County courts
Updated July 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.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Brevard County makes it in front of a judge. Of 7,410 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 5.9% — 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 — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
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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?
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).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Brevard County, Florida (2025). Based on 697 public court records; last updated July 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 July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com