Drug Possession in Monroe County, Florida
548 cases (2025) · Monroe County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Monroe County handled 548 drug possession cases with outcomes markedly different from statewide patterns. Defendants faced a 54.9% conviction rate, but nearly half of cases resolved through adjudication withheld (24.1%) or diversion programs (19.9%), compared to statewide rates of 16.9% and 5.4% respectively. Dismissals were rare at 1.1%, slightly below the statewide average, suggesting the State Attorney pursues these cases vigorously.
Among defendants sentenced to confinement, the median jail term was 90 days, with average probation lasting nearly two years. Prison incarceration was uncommon (3.8%), while jail confinement affected nearly a third of convicted defendants. The majority were represented by private counsel (56.8%), with public defenders handling the remainder.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Monroe County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,655 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 36.4% — 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 — 54.9% of 548 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 548 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 | 583 | 5.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 106 | 2.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Monroe County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Monroe County?
The guilty rate is 54.9% based on 548 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Monroe County?
Adjudication is withheld in 24.1% 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 Monroe County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 7.9 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
33.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 56.8% 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 | 427 | 53.9% | 0.9% |
| Black | 64 | 67.2% | 3.1% |
| Not Available | 16 | 50.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 619 | 51.7% | 1.3% | 11.8 months |
| 2024 | 611 | 58.8% | 2.5% | 7.9 months |
| 2025 | 548 | 54.9% | 1.1% | 7.9 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 915 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 807 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 43 |
| Felony | First Degree | 12 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Monroe County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 983 | 37.5% | 0.3% |
| Other | 741 | 54.7% | 0.5% |
| Trespassing | 312 | 89.1% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 271 | 66.4% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 291 | 89.0% | 1.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 240 | 80.0% | 1.2% |
| Battery | 218 | 56.0% | 0.5% |
| Fraud | 171 | 72.5% | 0.0% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Monroe County, Florida (2025). Based on 548 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/monroe
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Monroe 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 · 548 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com