Drug Possession in Franklin County, Florida
210 cases (2025) · Franklin County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Franklin County processed 210 drug possession cases. The diversion rate of 11.4% was notably elevated compared to the statewide 5.4%, indicating a prosecution strategy emphasizing pre-trial intervention programs over adjudication. No dismissals occurred, compared to 1.4% statewide, and the guilty rate of 70.5% fell modestly below typical patterns. Adjudication withheld appeared in 15.2%, slightly below the statewide average of 16.9%, suggesting this county's prosecutors pursued either conviction or diversion more than withholding.
Among confined defendants, average sentences were relatively modest at 187.5 days (median 60 days), but probation terms were notably extended at 1086.9 days, suggesting intensive long-term supervision. Jail occurred in 70.5% of cases and prison in 9.0%, indicating reliance on local facilities over state prison. Fines were minimal at $92.81. Public defenders represented 48.1% of defendants, with only 1.4% retaining private counsel, reflecting rural demographics and limited private bar presence.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Franklin County makes it in front of a judge. Of 383 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 15.9% — 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 — 70.5% of 210 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 210 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 | 316 | 3.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 41 | 2.4 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Franklin County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Franklin County?
The guilty rate is 70.5% based on 210 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Franklin County?
Adjudication is withheld in 15.2% 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 Franklin County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 6.2 months, with an average fine of $93 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
48.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.4% retain private counsel (2025).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 187 | 70.6% | 0.0% |
| Black | 20 | 70.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 113 | 78.8% | 2.7% | 8.0 months |
| 2024 | 108 | 81.5% | 0.0% | 5.2 months |
| 2025 | 210 | 70.5% | 0.0% | 6.2 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 | 215 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 189 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 25 |
| Felony | First Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Franklin County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 227 | 27.8% | 7.5% |
| Traffic Offense | 125 | 43.2% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 53 | 69.8% | 1.9% |
| Resisting Officer | 94 (2023-2025) | 73.4% | 2.1% |
| Trespassing | 77 (2023-2025) | 77.9% | 0.0% |
| Disorderly Conduct | 76 (2023-2025) | 64.5% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 76 (2023-2025) | 77.6% | 2.6% |
| Drug Sale | 43 (2023-2025) | 95.3% | 0.0% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Franklin County, Florida (2025). Based on 210 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/franklin
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Franklin 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 · 210 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com