Drug Possession in Jefferson County, Florida
193 cases (2025) · Jefferson County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Jefferson County processed 193 drug possession cases with notably limited alternatives to conviction. Guilty findings occurred in 71.5% of cases, while 28.0% received withheld adjudication—substantially above the statewide average of 16.9%. The key distinction from statewide practice was the complete absence of diversion: no defendants received pre-trial program opportunities, compared to the statewide average of 5.6%. The dismissal rate of 0.5% fell far below the statewide rate of 1.4%, indicating rarely dismissed charges.
Sentencing emphasized short-term confinement through jail: 82.4% received jail time versus 8.3% receiving prison, with a median sentence of only 31 days but average of 231 days reflecting outlier long sentences. Probation averaged 928.1 days—higher than most counties—while fines were minimal at $94.62 on average. Public defenders represented 34.7% of defendants, suggesting limited private counsel involvement in this rural county.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Jefferson County makes it in front of a judge. Of 561 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 10.9% — 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 — 71.5% 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 | 423 | 3.5 months |
| State Prison Facility | 53 | 3.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Jefferson 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 | 114 | 73.7% | 0.9% |
| White | 71 | 70.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 178 | 78.1% | 0.0% | 8.6 months |
| 2024 | 173 | 68.8% | 1.2% | 5.0 months |
| 2025 | 193 | 71.5% | 0.5% | 7.7 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 | 297 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 213 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 25 |
| Felony | First Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Jefferson County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 137 | 74.5% | 0.7% |
| Other | 36 | 86.1% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 53 | 84.9% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 36 | 86.1% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 71 (2023-2025) | 83.1% | 2.8% |
| Fraud | 48 (2023-2025) | 72.9% | 18.8% |
| Weapons Offense | 44 (2023-2025) | 79.5% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 43 (2023-2025) | 100.0% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Jefferson County?
The guilty rate is 71.5% based on 193 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Jefferson County?
Adjudication is withheld in 28.0% 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 Jefferson County?
The average sentence is 7.7 months, with an average fine of $95 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
34.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 8.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Jefferson County, Florida (2025). Based on 193 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/jefferson
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Jefferson 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