Drug Possession in Clay County, Florida
560 cases (2025) · Clay County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, drug possession in Clay County reflected a conviction-oriented approach. Guilty verdicts were entered in 70.2% of cases, substantially above the 54.5% statewide average. Adjudication was withheld in 24.5%, above the 16.9% statewide rate. Diversion was minimal at 4.3% compared to 5.6% statewide, and dismissals occurred in only 1.1% of cases, roughly matching the statewide 1.4% rate. The pattern shows limited pathways to avoid formal adjudication.
Sentenced defendants averaged 273 days in confinement with jail time in 61.3% of cases and prison in 12.1%. Probation averaged 370 days, approximately one year. Fines averaged $494, higher than the Baker County average. The defendant population relied heavily on public defenders and court-appointed counsel.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Clay County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,479 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 12.0% — 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 — 70.2% of 560 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 560 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 | 1,241 | 4.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 281 | 2.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Clay County.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 417 | 75.3% | 1.0% |
| Black | 118 | 59.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 746 | 68.1% | 0.8% | 7.9 months |
| 2024 | 672 | 74.3% | 0.3% | 10.4 months |
| 2025 | 560 | 70.2% | 1.1% | 9.1 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1,014 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 915 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 36 |
| Felony | First Degree | 5 |
| Misdemeanor | NULL | 5 |
| NULL | NULL | 2 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Clay County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,116 | 59.9% | 0.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 411 | 69.8% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 363 | 65.8% | 1.1% |
| Other | 424 | 47.6% | 32.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 194 | 73.2% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 133 | 99.2% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 129 | 81.4% | 2.3% |
| Sex Offense | 110 | 96.4% | 1.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Clay County?
The guilty rate is 70.2% based on 560 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Clay County?
Adjudication is withheld in 24.5% 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 Clay County?
The average sentence is 9.1 months, with an average fine of $494 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Clay County, Florida (2025). Based on 560 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/clay
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Clay 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 · 560 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com