Drug Possession in Duval County, Florida
4,899 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Duval County processed 4,899 drug possession cases, the largest caseload statewide. The guilty rate was 73.9%, withheld adjudication occurred in 25.4% (well above 16.9% statewide), and diversion was nearly absent at 0.5% versus 5.6% statewide. Dismissals were rare at 0.1%.
Incarceration was extreme: 68.5% received jail time, the highest rate statewide, though median sentences were moderate at 41 days. Prison was imposed in 8.7%. Probation averaged 540.1 days. Fines averaged $151.54. Public defenders represented 60.1% of defendants.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 13,823 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 18.9% — 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 — 73.9% of 4,899 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 4,899 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 | 10,260 | 3.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 1,674 | 3.1 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 1.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Duval 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 | 2,881 | 73.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 1,945 | 76.5% | 0.1% |
| Asian | 49 | 57.1% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,889 | 70.4% | 0.2% | 9.7 months |
| 2024 | 5,816 | 73.3% | 0.3% | 7.8 months |
| 2025 | 4,899 | 73.9% | 0.1% | 6.8 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 | 9,119 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 6,812 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 618 |
| Felony | First Degree | 54 |
| Felony | Life | 1 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,130 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,441 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.2% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
| Weapons Offense | 591 | 88.7% | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 73.9% based on 4,899 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 25.4% 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 Duval County?
The average sentence is 6.8 months, with an average fine of $152 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
60.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 19.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 4,899 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/duval
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Duval 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 · 4,899 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com