Drug Possession in Hillsborough County, Florida
6,254 cases (2025) · Hillsborough County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Hillsborough County handled 6,254 drug possession cases with a guilty rate of 71.9%, a withheld adjudication rate of 15.2%, and diversion at 8.7%. The dismissal rate of 1.9% exceeded the statewide average of 1.4%, suggesting the State Attorney's office relatively frequently dismisses charges. The withheld rate aligned closely with the statewide average of 16.9%, while diversion exceeded it by 3.1 percentage points.
Defendants sentenced received an average of 288.8 days in confinement, though the median was notably lower at 90 days, indicating substantial variation in case outcomes. Fines averaged $17,451—significantly higher than typical—while probation averaged 834.1 days. Confinement split between jail (40.9%) and prison (9.2%). The defendant pool was predominantly represented by private attorneys (87.9%), reflecting Hillsborough's urban and more affluent demographics compared to rural Florida counties.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Hillsborough County makes it in front of a judge. Of 42,623 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 60.5% — above 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 — 71.9% of 6,254 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 6,254 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 | 7,635 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 1,678 | 2.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Hillsborough 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 3,435 | 68.5% | 1.9% |
| Black | 2,726 | 76.9% | 1.8% |
| Asian | 17 | 52.9% | 5.9% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,680 | 72.5% | 2.4% | 11.0 months |
| 2024 | 5,385 | 74.0% | 1.5% | 10.1 months |
| 2025 | 6,254 | 71.9% | 1.9% | 9.6 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 | 10,719 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 6,270 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 250 |
| Felony | First Degree | 58 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 22 |
Related Charges in Hillsborough County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 12,179 | 50.5% | 9.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,618 | 68.4% | 2.6% |
| Sex Offense | 4,360 | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Trespassing | 2,769 | 81.1% | 8.5% |
| Battery | 3,226 | 49.7% | 3.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,885 | 69.3% | 3.6% |
| Other | 2,559 | 74.0% | 1.9% |
| DUI | 1,727 | 89.9% | 1.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Hillsborough County?
The guilty rate is 71.9% based on 6,254 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County?
The average sentence is 9.6 months, with an average fine of $17,451 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
12.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 87.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Hillsborough County, Florida (2025). Based on 6,254 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/hillsborough
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hillsborough 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 · 6,254 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com