Drug Sale in Duval County, Florida
437 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, drug sale defendants in Duval County faced markedly aggressive prosecution. The guilty rate of 94.8 percent far exceeded typical outcomes, while only 4.8 percent received withheld adjudication, compared to the statewide average of 8.3 percent. Dismissals were nearly nonexistent at 0.2 percent, 1.6 percentage points below the statewide average. No defendants accessed diversion programs, which were available to fewer than 1 percent statewide. The Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney prioritized conviction above other outcomes.
Sentences were substantial: the average ran 963.5 days with a median of 517 days. Prison was the primary confinement method for 60.9 percent of defendants, while 32.3 percent received jail time. Public defenders represented 63.2 percent of defendants, reflecting the charge's prevalence among those without private counsel resources.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Sale charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,548 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 14.1% — 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 95.0% of 437 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 437 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) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 949 | 3.6 years |
| County Jail | 489 | 8.6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale sentencing in Duval County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Sale in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 95.0% based on 437 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 4.6% 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 Sale in Duval County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 2.7 years, with an average fine of $250 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
63.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 36.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 281 | 95.0% | 0.4% |
| White | 150 | 95.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 584 | 84.4% | 0.3% | 2.8 years |
| 2024 | 628 | 91.1% | 0.2% | 2.4 years |
| 2025 | 437 | 95.0% | 0.2% | 2.7 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 1,116 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 421 |
| Felony | First Degree | 101 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 8 |
| Felony | Life | 3 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,131 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 4,904 | 74.0% | 0.1% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,440 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.5% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 437 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/duval
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Duval 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 · 437 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com