Drug Possession in Washington County, Florida
231 cases (2025) · Washington County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Washington County's drug possession cases show a distinctive outcome profile, with zero dismissals against the statewide 1.4% and zero diversion programs against 5.6% statewide. However, withheld adjudications are the highest among comparison counties at 21.2% versus 16.9% statewide. This indicates Washington's approach heavily favors withheld adjudications as an alternative to conviction, with neither dismissal nor diversion opportunities available.
Washington County defendants faced an average sentence of 204 days with a notably low median of 42 days, a substantial gap indicating a small number of much longer sentences. Probation was exceptionally high at 1,034 days, among the longest of all counties. Incarceration was jail-heavy at 52.4% with only 6.9% receiving prison, suggesting probation-based sentences. Public defenders represented 26.8% of cases with minimal private counsel at 1.3%.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Possession charge in Washington County makes it in front of a judge. Of 475 prosecutor decisions on Drug Possession charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 4.4% — 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 — 78.8% of 231 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 231 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 | 415 | 3.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 65 | 3.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Possession sentencing in Washington 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 | 165 | 80.0% | 0.0% |
| Black | 59 | 78.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 203 | 85.7% | 0.0% | 8.8 months |
| 2024 | 292 | 79.5% | 0.3% | 9.7 months |
| 2025 | 231 | 78.8% | 0.0% | 6.8 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 | 455 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 229 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 37 |
| Felony | First Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Washington County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 136 | 55.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 84 | 78.6% | 1.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 259 (2023-2025) | 59.1% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 64 | 76.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 67 | 71.6% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 31 | 83.9% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 92 (2023-2025) | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| Assault | 76 (2023-2025) | 71.1% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Possession in Washington County?
The guilty rate is 78.8% based on 231 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Possession in Washington County?
Adjudication is withheld in 21.2% 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 Washington County?
The average sentence is 6.8 months, with an average fine of $1,071 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
26.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Washington County, Florida (2025). Based on 231 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-possession/washington
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Washington 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 · 231 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com