Drug Possession in Nassau County, Florida
349 cases (2025) · Nassau County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Nassau County processed 349 drug possession cases with limited alternatives to adjudication. Guilty findings comprised 72.2% of outcomes, with 25.8% receiving withheld adjudication—nearly 9 percentage points above the statewide rate of 16.9%. No cases received diversion, compared to the statewide rate of 5.6%, and the dismissal rate of 0.3% fell sharply below the statewide average of 1.4%. The State Attorney's approach prioritized formal adjudication over dismissal or diversion pathways.
Notably, Nassau County imposed the longest average sentences in the dataset at 411 days, with a median of 183 days, and probation averaged 644.1 days. Despite these lengthy sentences, confinement through incarceration was relatively modest: 15.8% received jail and 11.2% prison, suggesting many defendants received probation-focused sentences. Fines averaged $435.25. Public defenders represented 33.0% of defendants, indicating limited private counsel availability.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Nassau County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,164 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 10.4% — 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 — 72.2% of 349 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 349 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 | 351 | 4.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 157 | 2.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Nassau 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 | 287 | 72.5% | 0.3% |
| Black | 57 | 73.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 701 | 75.2% | 0.0% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 530 | 74.0% | 0.0% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 349 | 72.2% | 0.3% | 1 year, 2 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 | 853 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 705 |
| Felony | First Degree | 11 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 11 |
Related Charges in Nassau County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 474 | 25.9% | 1.9% |
| Other | 246 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| Probation Violation | 323 | 68.4% | 19.5% |
| Larceny / Theft | 176 | 79.0% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 155 | 97.4% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 90 | 70.0% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 91 | 75.8% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 64 | 85.9% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Nassau County?
The guilty rate is 72.2% based on 349 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Nassau County?
Adjudication is withheld in 25.8% 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 Nassau County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 2 months, with an average fine of $435 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
33.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Nassau County, Florida (2025). Based on 349 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/nassau
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Nassau 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 · 349 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com