Drug Possession in Jackson County, Florida
193 cases (2025) · Jackson County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Jackson County handled drug possession cases with a 76.2% conviction rate, alongside a notably high withheld adjudication rate of 19.2%—exceeding Florida's statewide average of 16.9%. However, the county diverted only 4.1% of defendants through pre-trial programs compared to the statewide 5.6%, and achieved no outright dismissals, falling 1.4 percentage points below the state average. This pattern suggests the State Attorney secured formal judgments in most cases while using withheld adjudication as an alternative to straight conviction.
Sentences averaged 358 days with a median of 183 days. Confinement was split nearly evenly between jail (41.5%) and probation, with 19.7% receiving prison time. One-third of defendants were represented by public defenders, with 3.6% retaining private counsel.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Jackson County makes it in front of a judge. Of 545 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 9.9% — 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 — 76.2% of 193 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 193 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 | 303 | 4.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 159 | 2.4 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 1 | 4.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Jackson 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 | 112 | 72.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 77 | 85.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 223 | 87.0% | 0.4% | 11.2 months |
| 2024 | 273 | 78.8% | 0.0% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2025 | 193 | 76.2% | 0.0% | 11.9 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 | 370 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 296 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 23 |
Related Charges in Jackson County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 183 | 49.2% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 130 | 73.1% | 0.8% |
| Battery | 77 | 71.4% | 0.0% |
| Other | 77 | 70.1% | 1.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 71 | 78.9% | 0.0% |
| Fraud | 62 | 64.5% | 1.6% |
| DUI | 63 | 96.8% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 121 (2023-2025) | 86.8% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Jackson County?
The guilty rate is 76.2% based on 193 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Jackson County?
Adjudication is withheld in 19.2% 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 Jackson County?
The average sentence is 11.9 months, with an average fine of $218 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
33.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Jackson County, Florida (2025). Based on 193 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/jackson
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Jackson 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 · 193 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com