Drug Possession in Hendry County, Florida
373 cases (2025) · Hendry County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hendry County's drug possession cases show harsh prosecution. Guilty convictions reached 77.8%, with another 9.5% adjudication withheld (meaning guilt was found but not formally adjudicated—no conviction on record). Notably, dismissals were virtually nonexistent at 0.0%, far below the statewide average of 1.4 percentage points. Diversion was slightly elevated at 12.4% versus the state average of 5.6%, suggesting some cases avoid conviction through program completion.
Sentencing reflected moderate severity. Median sentence was 211 days, with average probation of 559.7 days. One-third of defendants (33.2%) received jail time, while 11.1% faced prison. Average fines were $1,599. A majority (38.5%) were represented by public defenders, with only 6.6% hiring private counsel, indicating economically vulnerable populations.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Hendry County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,551 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 38.4% — in line with 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 — 77.5% of 373 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 373 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 | 313 | 6.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 122 | 5.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Hendry County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Hendry County?
The guilty rate is 77.5% based on 373 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Hendry County?
Adjudication is withheld in 9.7% 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 Hendry County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 5 months, with an average fine of $1,599 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
38.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 6.7% 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 | 189 | 78.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 103 | 85.4% | 0.0% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 11 | 54.5% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 312 | 65.1% | 0.0% | 2.1 years |
| 2024 | 423 | 76.1% | 0.0% | 2.0 years |
| 2025 | 373 | 77.5% | 0.0% | 1 year, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 589 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 443 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 62 |
| Felony | First Degree | 13 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Hendry County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 695 | 57.4% | 0.1% |
| Other | 204 | 40.2% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 118 | 77.1% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 149 | 67.8% | 0.0% |
| Probation Violation | 136 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| Escape / Failure to Appear | 117 | 13.7% | 86.3% |
| Battery | 112 | 69.6% | 0.9% |
| DUI | 76 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Hendry County, Florida (2025). Based on 373 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/hendry
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hendry 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 · 373 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com