Drug Sale in Santa Rosa County, Florida
64 cases (2023-2025) · Santa Rosa County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Drug sale prosecutions in Santa Rosa County secure conviction in 88% of cases, matching Monroe's aggressive approach. Dismissals never occur—zero cases—versus statewide 1.7%, indicating no prosecutorial discretion to drop charges. Withheld adjudication is rare at 11%. Diversion programs appear in just 1.6% of cases versus statewide 0.9%.
Sentences are the longest for drug sales: average 1240 days, median 621 days. Prison affects 56% of defendants—the highest rate nationally for this charge—with jail another 20%. Remarkably, 59% are represented by public defenders and only 2% retain private counsel, indicating an economically vulnerable population facing exceptionally harsh consequences.
Figures cover 64 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 Santa Rosa County makes it in front of a judge. Of 53 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 22.6% — 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 — 87.5% of 64 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 64 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 | 36 | 4.3 years |
| County Jail | 13 | 9.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale sentencing in Santa Rosa County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 40 | 82.5% | 0.0% |
| Black | 22 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 95.0% | 0.0% | 4.5 years |
| 2024 | 22 | 72.7% | 0.0% | 2.9 years |
| 2025 | 22 | 95.5% | 0.0% | 2.6 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 56 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 6 |
| Felony | First Degree | 1 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Santa Rosa County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,307 | 60.4% | 4.9% |
| Drug Possession | 961 | 74.1% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 545 | 64.6% | 0.4% |
| Other | 386 | 67.4% | 6.7% |
| Battery | 410 | 55.9% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 397 | 93.7% | 1.8% |
| Resisting Officer | 317 | 74.4% | 2.2% |
| Sex Offense | 157 | 80.3% | 12.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Sale in Santa Rosa County?
The guilty rate is 87.5% based on 64 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Santa Rosa County?
Adjudication is withheld in 10.9% 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 Santa Rosa County?
The average sentence is 3.4 years, with an average fine of $259 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
59.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.6% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Santa Rosa County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 64 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/santa-rosa
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Santa Rosa 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 · 64 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com