Drug Sale in Brevard County, Florida
78 cases (2023-2025) · Brevard County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Drug sale cases in Brevard County result in conviction at markedly high rates. The guilty verdict rate of 86.1 percent substantially exceeds the statewide average, with adjudication withheld in 10.1 percent of cases—slightly above the state average of 8.5 percent. Dismissals occur in just 1.3 percent of cases, slightly lower than the statewide rate of 1.7 percent. Notably, diversion programs, which allow defendants to avoid conviction through program completion, are not used in Brevard County for drug sale charges despite accounting for 0.9 percent of cases statewide. This prosecutorial approach suggests the State Attorney's office in the circuit prioritizes formal adjudication over alternative disposition pathways for these cases.
Confinement is substantial. Nearly half of defendants—46.8 percent—are sentenced to prison, with median sentences of 974 days. An additional 17.7 percent serve jail time. The average probation period extends 1,343 days. Most defendants are represented by public defenders (30.4 percent) rather than private counsel (5.1 percent), indicating financial constraints among the accused population.
Figures cover 78 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Sale charge in Brevard County makes it in front of a judge. Of 134 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 9.7% — below the 35.8% 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 85.9% of 78 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 78 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 37 | 3.6 years |
| County Jail | 14 | 9.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale sentencing in Brevard County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31 | 87.1% | 0.0% | 3.4 years |
| 2024 | 27 | 96.3% | 0.0% | 2.8 years |
| 2025 | 20 | 70.0% | 5.0% | 1 year, 7 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| NULL | NULL | 78 |
Related Charges in Brevard County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 989 | 73.3% | 1.2% |
| Other | 952 | 27.6% | 25.7% |
| Drug Possession | 697 | 77.6% | 0.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 496 | 65.7% | 0.6% |
| DUI | 667 | 62.5% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 370 | 82.7% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 315 | 62.5% | 1.3% |
| Contempt of Court | 291 | 11.7% | 84.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Sale in Brevard County?
The guilty rate is 85.9% based on 78 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Brevard County?
Adjudication is withheld in 10.3% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Sale in Brevard County?
The average sentence is 2.8 years (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
29.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.1% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Brevard County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 78 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/brevard
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Brevard 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 · 78 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com