Drug Possession in Lee County, Florida
2,117 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County's drug possession cases show outcomes closely aligned with statewide patterns in withheld adjudications and diversion, but with a notably lower dismissal rate of 0.1% versus 1.4% statewide. This indicates the State Attorney's office pursues conviction with high consistency. Withheld adjudications at 16.2% match the statewide rate, and diversion programs at 5.3% are comparable, suggesting Lee County generally follows statewide prosecution norms.
Lee County defendants received an average sentence of 525 days with a median of 180 days and probation averaging 636 days. Confinement patterns were distinctive—45.9% received jail time while 18.1% received prison, a lower incarceration rate than many counties. Representation was split between public defenders at 18.5% and private counsel at 9.8%, suggesting greater access to private representation than in smaller counties.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 11,836 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 44.9% — 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 — 77.4% of 2,117 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 2,117 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 | 2,492 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 897 | 3.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Lee 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 | 1,616 | 77.0% | 0.1% |
| Black | 451 | 80.9% | 0.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,885 | 84.7% | 0.2% | 1 year, 4 months |
| 2024 | 2,125 | 81.6% | 0.1% | 1 year, 2 months |
| 2025 | 2,117 | 77.4% | 0.1% | 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 | 3,884 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1,881 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 352 |
| Felony | First Degree | 9 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,039 | 67.2% | 0.2% |
| DUI | 1,301 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 686 | 84.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 71.7% | 2.5% |
| Trespassing | 456 | 83.3% | 5.9% |
| Other | 458 | 72.5% | 1.5% |
| Burglary | 267 | 74.5% | 1.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 77.4% based on 2,117 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 16.2% 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 Lee County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 5 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
18.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 9.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 2,117 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 2,117 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com