Drug Possession in Volusia County, Florida

5,517 cases (2025) · Volusia County courts

Updated July 2026 · 2025 data

In 2025, Volusia County processed over 5,000 drug possession cases with a 73.1% conviction rate and a 22.5% withheld adjudication rate above Florida's statewide 16.9%. Diversion usage at 3.1% fell below the statewide 5.6%, suggesting the State Attorney prioritized traditional convictions over alternative dispositions. The dismissal rate of 1.1% aligned closely with the statewide average of 1.4%, indicating consistent enforcement policies across most offense types.

Sentences were notably brief: average 169 days, median 30 days—among the shortest observed. Most defendants served jail time (73.3%) rather than prison (9.4%). Strikingly, the average fine of $14,485 was the highest in this sample, suggesting courts compensated for shorter sentences with substantial financial penalties. Public defender representation dominated at 74%, indicating high indigency rates.

5,517
Total Cases (2025)
73.1%
Guilty Rate
22.5%
Withheld Rate
1.1%
Dismissal Rate
● vs 1.6% statewide, 2025
5.6 months
Avg Sentence
I Outcomes

Outcome Breakdown (2025)

Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)

Guilty
73.1% (4,031)
Withheld
22.5% (1,240)
Diversion
3.1% (172)
Dismissed
1.1% (59)
Acquitted
0.1% (4)

Largest outcomeGuilty — 73.1% of 5,517 cases.

Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 5,517 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com

II Sentencing

Sentencing Breakdown (2025)

Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)

5.6 months
Avg Sentence
1.0 months
Median Sentence
2.1 years
Avg Probation
$14,485
Avg Fine
9.4%
Prison Rate
73.3%
Jail Rate

Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).

Confinement Type Count Avg Sentence
County Jail 11,102 2.1 months
State Prison Facility 1,669 2.6 years
Confinement to Hospital Facility 1 23 days

Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Volusia County.

Counsel Analysis (2025)

4,082
Public Defender
75.9% guilty · 0.8% dismissed
772
Private Attorney
64.2% guilty · 0.8% dismissed
385
Self or Unrepresented
56.4% guilty · 4.7% dismissed
144
Conflict Counsel
74.3% guilty · 0.7% dismissed
134
Court Private or Assigned Counsel
85.1% guilty · 0.0% dismissed

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 3,906 71.2% 1.3%
Black 1,532 78.2% 0.5%
Not Available 35 62.9% 2.9%
Asian 10 60.0% 0.0%

Age Distribution (2025)

3.1%
Under 21
17.3%
21-29
32.8%
30-39
26.8%
40-49
13.0%
50-59
7.0%
60+

Year-Over-Year Trends

Exhibit · Disposition trends

Year Cases Guilty Rate Dismissal Rate Avg Sentence
2023 4,650 65.6% 1.1% 6.8 months
2024 5,074 70.7% 1.2% 5.7 months
2025 5,517 73.1% 1.1% 5.6 months

Quarterly detail

1.5%
1.1%
1.0%
0.8%
1.5%
1.2%
0.8%
1.2%
0.9%
0.4%
1.8%
1.2%
Q1’23 Q2’23 Q3’23 Q4’23 Q1’24 Q2’24 Q3’24 Q4’24 Q1’25 Q2’25 Q3’25 Q4’25

Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.

Charge Level Breakdown

Level Degree Cases
Misdemeanor First Degree 8,012
Felony Third Degree 6,882
Felony Second Degree 296
Felony First Degree 32
Misdemeanor Second Degree 19

Related Charges in Volusia County

Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.

Charge Cases Guilty Rate Dismissal Rate
Other 9,058 15.7% 52.0%
Traffic Offense 5,037 52.6% 5.9%
Battery 2,011 49.0% 2.3%
Larceny / Theft 1,690 65.9% 2.8%
Resisting Officer 1,440 68.9% 1.6%
Trespassing 1,268 78.9% 3.2%
Sex Offense 579 86.0% 4.3%
Fraud 666 65.9% 5.9%
III Getting Help

Need a Defense Attorney in Volusia County?

Get matched with a local attorney who handles Drug Possession cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Volusia County?

The guilty rate is 73.1% based on 5,517 cases (2025).

How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Volusia County?

Adjudication is withheld in 22.5% 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 Volusia County?

The average sentence is 5.6 months, with an average fine of $14,485 (2025).

What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?

74.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 14.0% retain private counsel (2025).

Cite this page

FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Volusia County, Florida (2025). Based on 5,517 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/volusia

About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Volusia 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 · 5,517 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com